Purpose: To describe two different types of "ring-like enhancement" seen on dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of breast cancer, and compare their histopathological features.
Materials and methods: A total of 326 breast carcinomas in 311 patients were evaluated regarding the existence and appearance of "ring-like enhancement" in comparison to other MR imaging and histopathological findings.
Results: Early peripheral enhancement (EPE) was observed in 81 of 326 lesions (24.8%) and delayed rim enhancement (DRE) in 110 (33.7%). Spiculated mass, invasive ductal carcinoma with abundant stroma, central fibrosis/necrosis, and a higher degree of fat invasion correlated with EPE (P < 0.001). DRE correlated with lobulated or round mass with a smooth border, invasive ductal carcinoma with scanty stroma, higher degrees of inflammatory change and surrounding compressed tissue, and less fat invasion (P <0.001). EPE correlated with the ratio of the peripheral to central blood vessel density (P = 0.0036) and DRE with the ratio of the peritumoral to peripheral lymph vessel density (P = 0.0298).
Conclusion: The appearance of two different types of ring-like enhancement on dynamic MRI in breast cancers was affected by the morphologic features, various histological factors reflecting the growth pattern of the mass, and angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis.
(c) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.