Interpretation: Enhancement Key Points

  • No accepted criteria for what is significant enhancement
  • Enhancement curves are not universally accepted as being helpful in interpretation
  • Progressive enhancement is more common in benign entities
  • Rapid enhancement with plateau or washout is more common in malignant entities
  • Normal breast tissue enhancement varies with the menstrual cycle (best to image during the second week)
  • Need at least three time points to assess the shape of the curve (ex: 20s, 3 min, 6 min)
  • Fibroadenoma enhancement varies widely and can mimic malignancy
  • Colloid carcinoma enhancement varies and may enhance only minimally


Kuhl CK, Mielcareck P, Klaschik S, Leutner C, Wardelmann E, Gieseke J, Schild HH.  Dynamic breast MR imaging: are signal intensity time course data useful for differential diagnosis of enhancing lesions?
Radiology. 1999 Apr;211(1):101-10.