The influence of preoperative MRI of the breasts on recurrence rate in patients with breast cancer

Abstract

Preoperative MRI of the breasts has been proven to be the most sensitive imaging modality in the detection of multifocal or multicentric tumor manifestations as well as simultaneous contralateral breast cancer. The aim of the presented retrospective study was to evaluate the benefit of preoperative MRI for patients with breast cancer. Preoperative MRI performed in 121 patients (group A) were compared to 225 patients without preoperative MRI (group B). Patients of group A underwent contrast-enhanced MR imaging of the breast using a 2D FLASH sequence technique (TR/TE/FA 336 ms/5 ms/90°; 32 slices of 4-mm thickness, time of acquisition 1:27 min, contrast agent dosage 0.1 mmol Gd-DTPA/kg bw). All patients had histologically verified breast cancer and follow-up for more than 20 months (mean time group A: 40.3 months, group B: 41 months). Both groups received the same types of systemic treatment after breast conserving surgery. The in-breast tumor recurrence rate in group A was 1/86 (1.2%) compared to 9/133 (6.8%) in group B. Contralateral carcinoma were detected within follow-up in 2/121 (1.7%) in group A vs. 9/225 (4%) in group B. All results were statistically significant (P<0.001). Based on these results, preoperative MRI of the breasts is recommended in patients with histopathologically verified breast cancer for local staging.

The impact of preoperative MRI on breast-conserving surgery of invasive cancer: a comparative cohort study

“…This may be of particular concern in younger patients where the local recurrence rate is approximately twice as large as in older patients. In a retrospective analysis, Fisher and colleagues reported that preoperative MRI reduced the incidence of local recurrence [36]. Impact of preoperative MRI on surgical precision was not addressed.…”

Reliability and Reproducibility of Breast MRI as A Roadmap in Treatment Planning of Breast Cancer –A Single Centre Experience

“…Although how much this extends into clinical and long term survival benefit is still a matter of debate. Clinical trials exist for both invasive and in situ carcinoma in which no significant difference in survival was found in patients treated with BCT or mastectomy [24][25][26]. Both radiation therapy and adjuvant systemic chemotherapy contribute to low rates of cancer recurrence in treated breast.…”

Patient selection for partial breast irradiation by intraoperative radiation therapy: can magnetic resonance imaging be useful?—perspective from radiation oncology point of view

“…The clinical significance of detecting these additional sites of disease was reported by a German group in a retrospective review of 346 patients who were preoperatively staged with (n=121) or without (n=225) MRI (23). At a mean follow-up of 40 months, the in-breast tumour recurrence rate in patients treated with breast conservative therapy and staged with MRI was 1.2% (1/86) compared with 6.5% (9/138) of the patients staged without preoperative MRI (P<0.001).…”