Characteristics of axillary lymph nodes apparent on dynamic contrast-enhanced breast MRI in healthy women

The study was initiated to characterize and better understand the natural characteristics of axillary lymph nodes (LNs) apparent on dynamic breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The most important finding in 71 subjects that included healthy women was that 41% showed strong enhanced axillary LNs. The dynamic curves of these LNs revealed an initial mean signal increase of 197% (±58%), all of them with a following plateau (34%) or washout (66%). Our study points out that the previous understanding of contrast enhancement in breast lesions should be taken with care when assessing axillary LNs. This has to be considered especially in preoperative breast MRI.