Evaluation of suspicious nipple discharge by magnetic resonance mammography based on breast imaging reporting and data system magnetic resonance imaging descriptors.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the findings of magnetic resonance mammography for suspicious nipple discharge based on breast imaging-reporting and data system magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) descriptors and establish any correlations with the histopathologic diagnoses.

METHODS: Forty-seven patients with suspicious nipple discharge underwent MRI using a 1.5-T system. Images were evaluated for a signal of abnormal discharge, related abnormal enhancement according to the breast imaging-reporting and data system MRI descriptors, and the presence of clustered ring enhancement and were compared with the histopathologic diagnoses established in 39 lesions.

RESULTS: The most common finding in patients with suspicious nipple discharge was non-masslike enhancement. Seventeen malignant and 22 benign lesions were detected. The most frequent findings in the malignant lesions were "segmental" (59%), "heterogeneous" (57%), and plateau pattern (40%). Clustered ring enhancement was found in 60% of the enhanced malignant lesions (P = 0.002). The combination of segmental distribution and clustered ring enhancement showed a significant association with malignant lesions (P = 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS: Magnetic resonance imaging provides clinically useful information in patients with suspicious nipple discharge.