Breast MR imaging: applications and pitfalls.

Context: Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging provides better detail of the breast than either mammography or ultrasound imaging and can be a valuable adjunct to other imaging techniques, particularly for small lesions, in dense or augmented breasts and for treatment planning.

Objective: To illustrate some common technical problems encountered with MR imaging of the breast and present breast pathologies depicted with MR.

Results: Using a case-study approach, the authors discuss breast MR imaging difficulties related to hardware, software, technologist performance and patient cooperation. They also present examples of contralateral breast cancer, recurrent breast carcinoma and local staging of breast cancer with MR imaging. Summary MR imaging of the breast has important advantages over other techniques, despite occasional technical problems.