Role of DCE and DWI in Differentiating between Benign and Malignant Breast Masses using 3T MRI: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Dynamic Contrast-enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging (DCE-MRI) imaging is the mainstay of breast MRI techniques in characterising breast masses. Diffusion-weighted Imaging (DWI) is an adjunct MRI technique to differentiate between benign and malignant breast masses. Aim: To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of breast MRI by combining DCE-MRI and DWI to differentiate benign from malignant breast masses and compare it with histopathology. Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Radiology and Imaging, Bharat Scans private limited, Chennai, India, from July 2013 to April 2015. A total of 51 patients with suspicious breast masses detected by mammography and/or ultrasonography were evaluated by DCE-MRI and DWI using General Electric (GE) 3 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging. The results were compared with histopathology. Sensitivity, specificity, Positive Predictive Value (PPV) and Negative Predictive Values (NPV) were calculated for DCE-MRI and for the combined method using DCE-MRI with DWI. Statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 17.0 and Open Epi software. A p-value