Magnetic resonance imaging of breast cancer: factors affecting the accuracy of preoperative lesion sizing

• Published in: Acta radiologica (1987) 2015-03, Vol.56 (3), p.260-268
• Main Authors: Mennella, Simone, Garlaschi, Alessandro, Paparo, Francesco, Perillo, Marco, Celenza, Matteo, Massa, Tiberio, Rollandi, Gian Andrea, Garlaschi, Giacomo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Breast - pathology; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast - pathology; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating - pathology; Carcinoma, Lobular - pathology; Female; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Middle Aged; Observer Variation; Preoperative Care - methods; Reproducibility of Results; Retrospective Studies; Tumor Burden
• ISSN: 0284-1851; 1600-0455
• DOI: 10.1177/0284185114524089

Background Accurate preoperative sizing of breast cancer with imaging modalities has a great importance in the surgical planning. Purpose To assess the influence of tumor size and histology on the accuracy of measurement of cancer local extension by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Material and Methods One hundred and eighty-six patients with primary breast cancer, for a total of 221 lesions, were included in this retrospective study. Tumors were divided into five histological groups: invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), IDC with extensive intraductal component (EIC), invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), and “other histology” (mucinous, papillary, medullary, tubular, and apocrine breast cancer). Microscopic measurement of the largest diameter of tumors at pathology was chosen as reference standard and compared with MRI measurement. Concordance was defined as a difference ≤ 5 mm between MRI and pathology. Results The mean size of tumors at pathology was 24.8 ± 19.4 mm, while at MRI it was 29.7 ± 20 mm (P