RATIONALE: Diagnostic procedures, such as MRI, may help find ductal carcinoma in situ and find out how far the disease has spread.

PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying how well MRI works in assessing tumor size in women with ductal carcinoma in situ.

OBJECTIVES:

Primary

• Assess the contribution of MRI in accurately determining tumor size in women with ductal breast carcinoma in situ (DCIS).

Secondary

• Evaluate the sensitivity of MRI in detecting DCIS.
• Evaluate the contribution of mammography in accurately determining tumor size.
• Compare the contribution of MRI vs mammography in assessing tumor extension.
• Compare the contribution of MRI vs mammography in assessing dense breasts.
• Evaluate the morphology of DCIS by MRI.
• Evaluate the curve of dynamic MRI in assessing DCIS.
• Evaluate the impact of nuclear grade of DCIS by MRI.
• Evaluate the rate of revision surgery.

OUTLINE: Patients undergo clinical examination, mammography, ultrasound imaging, unilateral breast MRI, and tissue sampling.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Diagnosis of ductal breast carcinoma in situ

  • Any grade disease allowed

• Unifocal disease by mammography

• No history of breast cancer

• Hormone receptor status not specified

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Menopausal status not specified
• WHO performance status 0-2
• Glomerular filtration rate ≥ 30 mL/min
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No allergy or contraindication to contrast MRI
• No pacemaker or vascular clip

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• No prior or concurrent liver transplantation