Breast MRI of breast cancer recurrence

Breast MRI can be used to differentiate postoperative scarring from breast cancer recurrence. This series depicts a patient with a prior history of right lumpectomy for invasive carcinoma who presented for annual mammography.

(A) The mammogram shows a new irregular mass posterior to the lumpectomy bed in the posterior central right breast (arrow). Mediolateral oblique view.

(B) Sagital MRI images demonstrate a low signal mass (arrow) in the posterior inferior right breast on the pre-gadolinium enhanced T2-weighted image (left) and on the T1-weighted MRI image (right).

(C) Subtraction of the pre and post contrast sagittal T1-weighted images of the right breast shows an enhancing mass (arrow) in the posterior central right breast confirming suspicion for recurrence. Biopsy revealed recurrent invasive ductal carcinoma.