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PURPOSE: To assess the usefulness of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the breast in patients with malignant axillary adenopathy and unknown primary malignancy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between October 1993 and December 1997, 38 women with malignant axillary adenopathy and negative mammographic and physical examination findings underwent contrast material–enhanced MR imaging. Sixteen patients were excluded due to axillary tail cancer (n = 7), lack of follow-up (n = 4), second primary malignancy (n = 3), or chemotherapy before MR imaging (n = 2). The study population comprised the remaining 22 patients. Histopathologic findings were available in 20 patients; follow-up MR imaging findings were available in two patients.

RESULTS: MR imaging depicted a primary breast cancer in 19 patients (86%; identified at excisional biopsy or mastectomy in 17, resolved on follow-up MR …