Histogram analysis of quantitative parameters from synthetic MRI: Correlations with prognostic factors and molecular subtypes in invasive ductal breast cancer

• Published in: European journal of radiology 2021-06, Vol.139, p.109697-109697, Article 109697
• Main Authors: Li, Qin, Xiao, Qin, Yang, Meng, Chai, Qinghuan, Huang, Yan, Wu, Pu-Yeh, Niu, Qingliang, Gu, Yajia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast - diagnostic imaging; Female; Histogram; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Prognosis; Prognostic factors; Retrospective Studies; Synthetic MRI
• ISSN: 0720-048X; 1872-7727
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2021.109697

•Synthetic MRI can provide simultaneous quantification of multiple relaxometry in one scan time.•The histogram parameters from synthetic MRI is potential for discriminating state of prognostic factors in breast cancer.•The mean of T2 value from synthetic MRI may serve as a potential biomarker for discriminating breast cancer subtypes. To evaluate intra-tumoral heterogeneity through a histogram analysis of quantitative parameters obtained from synthetic MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), and determine correlations of these histogram characteristics with prognostic factors and molecular subtypes of invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). A total of 122 IDC from 122 women who underwent preoperative synthetic MRI and DCE (dynamic contrast enhancement)-MRI were investigated. The synthetic MRI parameters (T1, T2, and PD (proton density)) were obtained. For each parameter, the minimum, 10th percentile, mean, median, 90th percentile, maximum, skewness, and kurtosis values of tumor were calculated, and correlations with prognostic factors and subtypes were assessed. The Mann-Whitney U test or the Student's t test were utilized to analyze the association between the histogram features of synthetic MRI parameters and prognostic factors. The Kruskal-Wallis test followed by the post-hoc test was used to analyze differences of synthetic MRI parameters among molecular subtypes. IDC with high histopathologic grade showed statistically higher PDmaxium, T1mean and T1median values than those with low grade (p = 0.003, p = 0.007, p = 0.003). The T110th were significantly higher in cancers with PR (progesterone receptor) negativity than those with PR positivity (p = 0.005). ER-negative cancers had significant higher values of T210th, T2mean, and T2median than ER-positive cancers (p = 0.006, 0.002, and 0.006, respectively). The values of PDmedian were significantly higher in IDC with HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) positivity than those with HER2 negativity (p = 0.001). When discriminating molecular subtypes of IDC, the T2mean achieved the highest performance. The T2mean values of TN (triple-negative), luminal B and luminal A types are arranged in descending order (p