Sensitivity of breast MRI for ductal carcinoma in situ appearing as microcalcifications only on mammography

Purpose This study aims to investigate sensitivity of breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for mammographic microcalcifications-only ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), based on its histopathology and mammographic extent of microcalcifications. Methods Mammograms were reviewed to measure the extent of microcalcifications. Sensitivity of MRI was calculated in the overall study population and in groups differing for DCIS nuclear grade, microinvasivity, and microcalcifications' extent. Results Overall sensitivity of MRI was 78.3% for dynamic contrast enhanced and 66.7% for diffusion-weighted imaging and did not vary with nuclear grade and microinvasivity, while it increased with larger extent of microcalcifications (ExpB=1.063–1.046, P=.037–.013). Conclusions Mammographic extent of microcalcifications positively affects sensitivity of breast MRI.