the diagnostic performance of magnetic resonance imaging (mri) in the evaluation of breast ultrasound non-mass lesions: a systematic review

Aim: this study aims to conduct a systematic review of the current knowledge regarding the diagnostic performance of mri in the investigation of non-mass lesions of the breast. method: up to july 2022, pubmed, scopus, web of science, and embase were searched comprehensively. all studies examining the diagnostic performance of mri in non-mass lesions were included except review articles, articles published in a language other than english, and case reports or series of cases. two independent reviewers performed a literature review and data extraction. a checklist for cross-sectional studies developed by the joanna briggs institute (jbi) was used to assess sources of bias. results: the systematic review included two studies. if any enhancement is present on mri, most ultrasound nmls exhibit a non-mass-enhancement. we found that the distribution of non-mass enhancement lesions was primarily segmental and regional. the highest number of malignancies is associated with segmental distributions since 81.8% of the cases with segmental enhancement were ductal carcinomas, specifically dcis. conclusion: non-mass lesions of the us that do not enhance in mri have a good prognosis. breast cancer is very unlikely in these cases, so follow-up is acceptable unless there is a suspicion of malignancy on mammography. in cases where region al and segmental enhancement of nmls occurs on ce-mri, ductal carcinomas may be present, and a pathological examination is warranted.