High detectability of internal mammary lymphadenopathy associated with biopsy-proved breast cancer at high-tesla MR imaging

This paper evaluates the internal mammary lymphadenopathy larger than 3 mm associated with biopsy-proved breast cancer. A total of 82 patients with biopsy-proved breast cancer were examined with MR imaging. Internal mammary lymphadenopathy was examined on a T1-weighted image with a 4-mm nongap oblique section that was parallel to the sternum. In all cases, MR images were compared with CT scans, US images, operative findings, and histopathologic examination findings. Internal lymphadenopathy 3--23 mm in size was detected in 38 or 82 patients on T1-weighted images