NME Enhancement — Heterogeneous
Heterogeneous internal NME enhancement indicates varied, non-uniform enhancement throughout the NME region without an organized pattern.
Definition
Varied, non-uniform enhancement within the NME area — mixed signal intensity without the organized pattern of clumped or clustered ring enhancement.
Imaging Appearance
- Early post-contrast T1W: uneven, irregular signal throughout the NME
- No organized clumps or ring patterns
- Patchy or irregular distribution of enhancing foci interspersed with non-enhancing tissue
Suspicion Level
Heterogeneous NME enhancement is nonspecific — seen in both benign and malignant conditions. Distribution provides the primary suspicion level.
Examples from Source
- Diffuse, heterogeneous NME → DCIS with microinvasion (suspicious)
- Diffuse, heterogeneous NME → ILC (suspicious)
- Regional, heterogeneous NME → IDC and DCIS (suspicious)
- Regional, heterogeneous NME → DCIS (suspicious)
- Linear, heterogeneous NME → Stromal fibrosis (benign)
- Linear, heterogeneous NME → Sclerosing adenosis (benign)
- Linear, heterogeneous NME → Apocrine metaplasia (benign)
- Segmental, heterogeneous NME → DCIS (suspicious)
- Focal, heterogeneous NME → PASH (benign)