Preoperative breast MRI in the surgical treatment of ductal carcinoma in situ

Preoperative breast MRI positively impacts surgical outcomes of needle biopsy-diagnosed pure DCIS: a patient-matched analysis from the MIPA study

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the influence of preoperative breast MRI on mastectomy and reoperation rates in patients with pure ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).

METHODS

The MIPA observational study database (7245 patients) was searched for patients aged 18-80 years with pure unilateral DCIS diagnosed at core needle or vacuum-assisted biopsy (CNB/VAB) and planned for primary surgery. Patients who underwent preoperative MRI (MRI group) were matched (1:1) to those who did not receive MRI (noMRI group) according to 8 confounding covariates that drive referral to MRI (age; hormonal status; familial risk; posterior-to-nipple diameter; BI-RADS category; lesion diameter; lesion presentation; surgical planning at conventional imaging). Surgical outcomes were compared between the matched groups with nonparametric statistics after calculating odds ratios (ORs).

RESULTS

Of 1005 women with pure unilateral DCIS at CNB/VAB (507 MRI group, 498 noMRI group), 309 remained in each group after matching. First-line mastectomy rate in the MRI group was 20.1% (62/309 patients, OR 2.03) compared to 11.0% in the noMRI group (34/309 patients, p = 0.003). The reoperation rate was 10.0% in the MRI group (31/309, OR for reoperation 0.40) and 22.0% in the noMRI group (68/309, p < 0.001), with a 2.53 OR of avoiding reoperation in the MRI group. The overall mastectomy rate was 23.3% in the MRI group (72/309, OR 1.40) and 17.8% in the noMRI group (55/309, p = 0.111).

CONCLUSIONS

Compared to those going directly to surgery, patients with pure DCIS at CNB/VAB who underwent preoperative MRI had a higher OR for first-line mastectomy but a substantially lower OR for reoperation.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT

When confounding factors behind MRI referral are accounted for in the comparison of patients with CNB/VAB-diagnosed pure unilateral DCIS, preoperative MRI yields a reduction of reoperations that is more than twice as high as the increase in overall mastectomies.

KEY POINTS

• Confounding factors cause imbalance when investigating the influence of preoperative MRI on surgical outcomes of pure DCIS. • When patient matching is applied to women with pure unilateral DCIS, reoperation rates are significantly reduced in women who underwent preoperative MRI. • The reduction of reoperations brought about by preoperative MRI is more than double the increase in overall mastectomies.

Preoperative breast magnetic resonance imaging in patients with ductal carcinoma in situ: a systematic review for the European Commission Initiative on Breast Cancer (ECIBC)

Objective

To evaluate the impact of preoperative MRI in the management of Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).

Methods

We searched the PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases to identify randomised clinical trials (RCTs) or cohort studies assessing the impact of preoperative breast MRI in surgical outcomes, treatment change or loco-regional recurrence. We provided pooled estimates for odds ratios (OR), relative risks (RR) and proportions and assessed the certainty of the evidence using the GRADE approach.

Results

We included 3 RCTs and 23 observational cohorts, corresponding to 20,415 patients. For initial breast-conserving surgery (BCS), the RCTs showed that MRI may result in little to no difference (RR 0.95, 95% CI 0.90 to 1.00) (low certainty); observational studies showed that MRI may have no difference in the odds of re-operation after BCS (OR 0.96; 95% CI 0.36 to 2.61) (low certainty); and uncertain evidence from RCTs suggests little to no difference with respect to total mastectomy rate (RR 0.91; 95% CI 0.65 to 1.27) (very low certainty). We also found that MRI may change the initial treatment plans in 17% (95% CI 12 to 24%) of cases, but with little to no effect on locoregional recurrence (aHR = 1.18; 95% CI 0.79 to 1.76) (very low certainty).

Conclusion

We found evidence of low to very low certainty which may suggest there is no improvement of surgical outcomes with pre-operative MRI assessment of women with DCIS lesions. There is a need for large rigorously conducted RCTs to evaluate the role of preoperative MRI in this population.

Key Points

• Evidence of low to very low certainty may suggest there is no improvement in surgical outcomes with pre-operative MRI.

• There is a need for large rigorously conducted RCTs evaluating the role of preoperative MRI to improve treatment planning for DCIS.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00330-021-07873-2.

Breast MRI in DCIS size estimation, breast-conserving surgery and oncoplastic breast surgery

The impact of MRI on improving surgical outcomes in DCIS is debated. Here, we explore the utility of MRI in the investigation and management of DCIS in three key areas. Firstly, we highlight that MRI is likely to be a more accurate predictor of actual tumour size than conventional imaging. Secondly, we examine mastectomy rates and reoperation rates across the literature and suggest that surgical outcomes do not differ between pre-operative MRI and conventional imaging groups, despite improved size estimation on MRI. Finally, we examine the rapidly developing field of oncoplastic breast surgery and highlight a paucity of data in determining the usefulness of pre-operative MRI in this field, despite this being an oncologically safe alternative with improved patient outcomes and satisfaction.

Pre-operative MRI in patients with ductal carcinoma in situ: Is MRI useful for identifying additional disease?

PURPOSE

To determine if pre-operative MRI is useful for identifying additional disease that would impact surgical management in women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective review of consecutive women with calcifications at mammography yielding DCIS at core biopsy from 2007 to 2016 who subsequently underwent MRI examinations. Patient characteristics, imaging findings, and pathology outcomes were collected from the medical records. Standard statistical tests were used to compare the patients who underwent MRI examinations (MRI group) and those who did not (no MRI group).

RESULTS

963 women (age 58 years, range 28-89 years) presented with calcifications that yielded DCIS at biopsy, of whom 236 (24.5 %) underwent MRI examinations. The MRI group was younger, less likely to have a prior breast cancer, and more likely to have dense breasts than the no MRI group (all p < 0.001). 66 women (28.0 %) had 80 MRI findings that were recommended for work-up and/or biopsy. 21 patients had 23 MRI findings that were not pursued pre-operatively, and 45 patients with 57 MRI findings underwent biopsy. The positive predictive value of biopsies performed (PPV3) was 45.6 % (26/57). 26 cancers were detected in 24 women; thus, MRI detected additional sites of cancer in 11.2 % (24/215) of patients. Of the 26 cancers, 13 (50.0 %) were DCIS and 13 (50.0 %) were invasive.

CONCLUSIONS

MRI in selected women with DCIS identified additional sites of disease in 11.2 % and thus could be considered in the pre-operative evaluation of this specific patient cohort.

Phase II Single-Arm Study of Preoperative Letrozole for Estrogen Receptor-Positive Postmenopausal Ductal Carcinoma In Situ: CALGB 40903 (Alliance)

PURPOSE

Primary endocrine therapy for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) as a potential alternative to surgery has been understudied. This trial explored the feasibility of a short-term course of letrozole and sought to determine whether treatment results in measurable radiographic and biologic changes in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive DCIS.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A phase II single-arm multicenter cooperative-group trial was conducted in postmenopausal patients diagnosed with ER-positive DCIS without invasion. Patients were treated with letrozole 2.5 mg per day for 6 months before surgery. Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was obtained at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. The primary end point was change in 6-month MRI enhancement volume compared with baseline.

RESULTS

Overall, 79 patients were enrolled and 70 completed 6 months of letrozole. Of these, 67 patients had MRI data available for each timepoint. Baseline MRI volumes ranged from 0.004 to 26.3 cm3. Median reductions from baseline MRI volume (1.4 cm3) were 0.6 cm3 (61.0%) at 3 months (P < .001) and 0.8 cm3 (71.7%) at 6 months (P < .001). Consistent reductions were seen in median baseline ER H-score (228; median reduction, 15.0; P = .005), progesterone receptor H-score (15; median reduction, 85.0; P < .001), and Ki67 score (12%; median reduction, 6.3%; P = .007). Of the 59 patients who underwent surgery per study protocol, persistent DCIS remained in 50 patients (85%), invasive cancer was detected in six patients (10%), and no residual DCIS or invasive cancer was seen in nine patients (15%).

CONCLUSIONS

In a cohort of postmenopausal women with ER-positive DCIS, preoperative letrozole resulted in significant imaging and biomarker changes. These findings support future trials of extended endocrine therapy as primary nonoperative treatment of some DCIS.

The Impact of Preoperative Breast MRI on Surgical Management of Women with Newly Diagnosed Ductal Carcinoma In Situ

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

Use of preoperative breast MRI (pMRI) to evaluate ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) extent is controversial due to limited data on its impact on surgical management. We sought to evaluate the effect of pMRI on surgical management of women with core needle biopsy (CNB)-diagnosed pure DCIS at a multidisciplinary academic institution.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study included all women with CNB-diagnosed DCIS (1/2004-12/2013) without prior ipsilateral breast cancer and who underwent surgery within 180 days of diagnosis. Patient features, number of CNBs and surgeries, and single successful breast conserving surgery (BCS) rate were compared between pMRI and no-pMRI cohorts. Number of surgeries and single BCS success rates were also compared to published US (SEER) and Danish National Registry data.

RESULTS

Among the 373 women included, no clinical differences were identified between the pMRI (n = 332) and no-pMRI (n = 41) cohorts (p > 0.05). The pMRI group experienced a higher additional CNB rate (30% vs. 7%, p = 0.002) but fewer total surgeries (mean = 1.2 vs. 1.5, p < 0.001) than the no-pMRI group. Among the 245 women for whom BCS was attempted, the pMRI cohort underwent fewer mean surgeries (1.3 vs. 1.7, p < 0.001) with a greater single successful BCS rate (77% vs. 43%, p < 0.001). Compared to published data, women with pMRI who underwent BCS experienced fewer surgeries (difference (Δ) = -0.22 vs. -0.17, p < 0.001) with a higher single successful BCS rate (Δ = +20% vs. +14%, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

pMRI may improve surgical management of DCIS at multidisciplinary centers with breast cancer specialists.

Surgical Outcomes for Ductal Carcinoma in Situ: Impact of Preoperative MRI

Background The role of preoperative MRI for predicting surgical outcomes in patients diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) remains uncertain. Purpose To investigate the associations between preoperative MRI and surgical outcomes in DCIS confirmed by using US-guided core-needle biopsy (CNB) and to evaluate clinical-pathologic variables associated with a benefit from MRI. Materials and Methods Women with DCIS confirmed by using US-guided CNB between January 2012 and December 2016 were included in this retrospective study. Propensity score matching using 18 confounding covariates was used to create matched groups with MRI and without MRI, and surgical outcomes were compared. Clinical-pathologic variables were evaluated to determine women who benefited from MRI. Results A total of 541 women (mean age ± standard deviation, 50 years ± 10) were evaluated. Among 430 women who underwent MRI, 67 additional lesions (16%) were depicted, with 25 (37%) of the 67 additional lesions being malignant. Fifty-seven (13%) of the 430 women had a change in surgical plan because of their MRI findings; the change was appropriate for 31 (54%) women. In matched groups, the MRI group was associated with lower odds of positive resection margin (odds ratio [OR], 0.39; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.16, 0.93; P = .03) and repeat surgery (OR, 0.33; 95% CI: 0.12, 0.92; P = .03) compared with the non-MRI group. There was no difference in likelihood of initial mastectomy (OR, 1.2; 95% CI: 0.7, 2.0; P = .59) and overall mastectomy (OR, 0.93; 95% CI: 0.5, 1.6; P = .79). In the MRI group, low nuclear grade (90% [28 of 31] vs 69% [275 of 399]; P = .01), progesterone receptor positivity (81% [25 of 31] vs 61% [244 of 399]; P = .03), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negativity (90% [28 of 31] vs 68% [270 of 399]; P = .01) were associated with a benefit from MRI versus no MRI. Conclusion Preoperative MRI depicted additional malignancy and reduced positive surgical margins and repeat surgery for ductal carcinoma in situ confirmed at US-guided biopsy without a higher mastectomy rate. © RSNA, 2020 Online supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Pinker in this issue.

Population-based study of the effect of preoperative breast MRI on the surgical management of ductal carcinoma in situ

BACKGROUND

Determinants of the use of breast MRI in patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in the Netherlands were studied, and whether using MRI influenced the rates of positive resection margins and mastectomies.

METHODS

All women aged less than 75 years, and diagnosed with DCIS between 2011 and 2015, were identified from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed, adjusting for incidence year, age, hospital type, DCIS grade and multifocality.

RESULTS

Breast MRI was performed in 2382 of 10 415 DCIS cases (22·9 per cent). In multivariable analysis, patients aged less than 50 years, those with high- or intermediate-grade DCIS and patients with multifocal disease were significantly more likely to have preoperative MRI. Patients undergoing MRI were more likely to have a mastectomy, either as first surgical treatment or following breast-conserving surgery (BCS) in the event of positive margins (odds ratio (OR) 2·11, 95 per cent c.i. 1·91 to 2·33). The risk of positive surgical margins after BCS was similar for those with versus without MRI. The secondary mastectomy rate after BCS was higher in patients who had MRI, especially in women aged less than 50 years (OR 1·94, 1·31 to 2·89). All findings were similar for low- and intermediate/high-grade DCIS.

CONCLUSION

Adding MRI to conventional breast imaging did not improve surgical outcome in patients diagnosed with primary DCIS. The likelihood of undergoing a mastectomy was twice as high in the MRI group, and no reduction in the risk of margin involvement was observed after BCS.

Preoperative Breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Women With Local Ductal Carcinoma in Situ to Optimize Surgical Outcomes: Results From the Randomized Phase III Trial IRCIS

PURPOSE

We evaluated the addition of breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to standard radiologic evaluation on the re-intervention rate in women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) undergoing breast-conserving surgery.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Women with biopsy-proven DCIS corresponding to a unifocal microcalcification cluster or a mass less than 30 mm were randomly assigned to undergo MRI or standard evaluation. The primary end point was the re-intervention rate for positive or close margins (< 2 mm) in the 6 months after randomization ( ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01112254).

RESULTS

A total of 360 patients from 10 hospitals in France were included in the study. Of the 352 analyzable patients, 178 were randomly assigned to the MRI arm, and 174 were assigned to the control arm. In the intent-to-treat analysis, 82 of 345 patients with the assessable end point were reoperated for positive or close margins within 6 months, resulting in a re-intervention rate of 20% (35 of 173) in the MRI arm and 27% (47 of 172) in the control arm. The absolute difference of 7% (95% CI, −2% to 16%) corresponded to a relative reduction of 26% (stratified odds ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.41 to 1.1; P = .13). When considering only the per-protocol population with an assessable end point, the difference was 9% (stratified odds ratio, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.35 to 1.0; P = .05). Total mastectomy rates were 18% (31 of 176) in the MRI arm and 17% (30 of 173) in the control arm (stratified P = .93). For 100 lesions seen on MRI, nonmass-like enhancement was more predominant (82%) than mass enhancement (20%). Nevertheless, no specific morphologic and kinetic parameters for DCIS were identified.

CONCLUSION

The study did not show sufficient surgical improvement with the use of preoperative MRI to be clinically relevant in DCIS staging. However, this could be reconsidered with the improvement of new MRI sequences and new modalities in magnetic resonance techniques.

Breast conserving surgery for extensive DCIS using multiple radioactive seeds

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Breast conserving surgery (BCS) can be challenging for large regions of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), resulting in high rates of positive resection margins. Radioactive seed localization (RSL) using multiple radioactive iodine (¹²⁵I) seeds can be used to bracket extensive DCIS (eDCIS). The goal of this study was to retrospectively compare the use of a single or multiple ¹²⁵I seeds in RSL to enable BCS in patients with eDCIS.

METHODS

All patients with eDCIS (area of ≥3.0 cm) who underwent either single or multiple-seed RSL between January 2008 and December 2016 were included. Patient, tumor and surgery characteristics were compared between both groups. Primary outcome measures were positive resection margin and re-operation rates.

RESULTS

Respectively 48 and 58 patients with eDCIS underwent single- and multiple-seed RSL and subsequent BCS. The rate of positive resection margin (focal and more than focal) with single-seed RSL was 47.9%, compared to 29.3% with multiple-seed RSL (p = 0.06). The re-operation rate was 39.6% with single-seed RSL and 20.7% in the multiple-seed RSL group (p = 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Multiple-seed RSL enables bracketing of large areas of DCIS, with the potential to decrease the high rate of positive resection margins in this patient group.

Current Approaches to Diagnosis and Treatment of Ductal Carcinoma In Situ and Future Directions

The presentation and treatment of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) has changed substantially over the years. While previously an incidental pathologic finding in more advanced, palpable tumors, the institution of screening mammography has repositioned this disease entity as one largely diagnosed as a non-palpable lesion, often prior to any invasive disease. As DCIS is a precursor to invasive carcinoma, evolution in the approach to treatment has followed in the footsteps of that for invasive disease, including breast conservation therapy, adjuvant radiation, and use of antihormonal therapy. Survival outcomes for DCIS are very high and more recent literature has investigated tailoring therapeutic approaches to avoid overtreatment. Two important areas of ongoing clinical debate concerning overtreatment include use of preoperative MRI and the role of adjuvant radiation. The heterogeneity of the disease makes it difficult to differentiate lesions that would benefit from more aggressive treatment from those in which overtreatment could be avoided. Clinical characteristics, such as histologic appearance, age at diagnosis, and margin status at tumor excision have been established as moderate predictors of disease recurrence, but none has provided strong enough evidence as to guide consensus decisions on adjuvant therapy. Continuing research seeks to define the genetic and molecular characteristics that can predict disease course and serve as the potential targets for novel therapeutic agents. While several markers have shown promise in differentiating tumor aggressiveness, there is still much to be discovered about the precise mechanisms of disease progression and how this can be applied clinically to optimize treatment.

Preoperative breast MR Imaging in patients with primary breast cancer has the potential to decrease the rate of repeated surgeries

PURPOSE

The impact of preoperative MRI on re-excisions and mastectomy rate is discussed controversially in the literature. Aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of preoperative breast MRI on the surgical procedure and rate of repeated surgeries.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 991 consecutive patients in the years 2009 and 2010 with 1036 primary breast cancers were retrospectively analyzed. Sixty percent (599 patients with 626 cancers) received preoperative breast MRI. Planned surgical procedures before and after MRI and numbers of repeated surgeries in patients with (MR+ ) and without preoperative MRI (MR-) were compared.

RESULTS

The result of preoperative MRI changed the surgical procedure in 25% (157/626) of the cases. In 81% (127/157), MRI was beneficial for the patients, as otherwise occult carcinomas were removed (n=122) or further biopsy could be prevented (n=5). Mastectomy rates did not differ between MR+ and MR- group (39% vs. 39%). On multiple regression analysis, the MR+ group had a lower chance for repeated surgery (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Preoperative MRI could lower the chance for repeated surgery in patients with primary breast cancer. The rate of mastectomy did not differ between patients undergoing preoperative MRI and those who did not.

Preoperative breast magnetic resonance imaging and contralateral breast cancer occurrence among older women with ductal carcinoma in situ

Although preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can detect mammographically occult contralateral breast cancers (CBCs) among women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), the impact of MRI on the incidence of subsequent CBC events is unclear. We examined whether MRI use decreases CBC occurrences and detection of invasive disease among women who develop a CBC. Utilizing the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare dataset, we assessed overall, synchronous (<6 months after primary cancer diagnosis), and subsequent (≥6 months after diagnosis, i.e., metachronous) CBC occurrence in women aged 67-94 years diagnosed with DCIS during 2004-2009, with follow-up through 2011. We applied a matched propensity score approach to compare the stage-specific incidence rate of CBC according to MRI use. Our sample consisted of 9166 beneficiaries, 1258 (13.7 %) of whom received preoperative MRI. After propensity score matching, preoperative MRI use was significantly associated with a higher synchronous CBC detection rate (108.6 vs. 29.7 per 1000 person-years; hazard ratio [HR] = 3.65; p < .001) with no significant differences in subsequent CBC rate (6.7 vs. 6.8 per 1000 person-years; HR = 0.90; p = .71). The 6-year cumulative incidence of any CBC (in situ plus invasive) remained significantly higher among women undergoing MRI, compared with those not undergoing MRI (9 vs. 4 %, p < .001). Women undergoing MRI also had a higher incidence of invasive CBC (4 vs. 3 %, p = .04). MRI use resulted in an increased detection of synchronous CBC but did not prevent subsequent CBC occurrence, suggesting that many of the undetected CBC lesions may not become clinically evident.

[Ductal carcinoma in situ diagnosis: 3 French national guidelines]

OBJECTIVE

Since the last guidelines published by the French National Cancer Institute (INCa) and the learning society "Société française de sénologie et de pathologie mammaire (SFSPM)" in 2009 about diagnosis and management of ductal carcinoma in situ, new data raised issues about overdiagnosis and its consequences, overtreatment. Therefore, an update was necessary, to provide healthcare professionals up-to-date guidelines and study therapeutic desescalation in particular.

METHODS

The clinical practice guidelines development process is based on systematic literature review and critical appraisal by a multidisciplinary experts workgroup. The recommendations are thus based on the best available evidence and experts agreement. Prior to publication, the guidelines are also reviewed by more than 100 independent practitioners in cancer care delivery.

RESULTS

This article presents French guidelines about MRI and vacuum assisted breast biopsy indications for DCIS diagnosis and the management of low-grade DCIS.

Magnetic Resonance-Guided High Intensity Focused Ultrasound Ablation of Breast Cancer

This chapter describes several aspects of MR-HIFU treatment for breast cancer. The current and future applications, technical developments and clinical results are discussed. MR-HIFU ablation is under investigation for the treatment of breast cancer, but is not yet ready for clinical implementation. Firstly, the efficacy of MR-HIFU ablation should be investigated in large trials. The existing literature shows that results of initial, small studies are moderate, but opportunities for improvement are available. Careful patient selection, taking treatment margins into account and using a dedicated breast system might improve treatment outcomes. MRI-guidance has proven to be beneficial for the accuracy and safety of HIFU treatments because of its usefulness before, during and after treatments. In conclusion, MR-HIFU is promising for the treatment of breast cancer and might lead to a change in breast cancer care in the future.

Benefits of preoperative MRI in breast cancer surgery studied in a large population-based cancer registry

Background

Although evidence for the benefits of preoperative MRI in breast cancer is lacking, use of MRI is increasing and characterized by large interhospital variation. The aim of the study was to evaluate MRI use and surgical outcomes retrospectively.

Methods

Women with invasive breast cancer (pT1–3) or ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), diagnosed in 2011–2013, were selected from the Netherlands Cancer Registry and subdivided into the following groups: invasive cancer, high-grade DCIS, non-palpable cancer, age 40 years or less, and invasive lobular cancer. Associations between preoperative MRI use and initial mastectomy, resection margin after breast-conserving surgery (BCS), re-excision after BCS, and final mastectomy were analysed.

Results

In total, 5514 women were included in the study; 1637 (34·1 per cent) of 4801 women with invasive cancer and 150 (21·0 per cent) of 713 with DCIS had preoperative MRI. Positive resection margins were found in 18·1 per cent women who had MRI and in 15·1 per cent of those who did not (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1·20, 95 per cent c.i. 1·00 to 1·45), with no differences in subgroups. Re-excision rates were 9·8 per cent in the MRI group and 7·2 per cent in the no-MRI group (adjusted OR 1·33, 1·04 to 1·70), with no differences in subgroups. In the MRI group, 38·8 per cent of patients ultimately underwent mastectomy, compared with 24·2 per cent in the no-MRI group (adjusted OR 2·13, 1·87 to 2·41). This difference was not found for patients aged 40 years or less, or for those diagnosed with lobular cancer.

Conclusion

No subgroup was identified in which preoperative MRI influenced the risk of margin involvement or re-excision rate after BCS. MRI was significantly associated with more extensive surgery, except in patients aged 40 years or less and those with invasive lobular cancer. These results suggest that use of preoperative MRI should be more targeted, and that general, widespread use be discouraged.

Meta-analysis of the effect of preoperative breast MRI on the surgical management of ductal carcinoma in situ

Background

MRI has been used increasingly in the diagnosis and management of women with invasive breast cancer. However, its usefulness in the preoperative assessment of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) remains questionable. A meta-analysis was conducted to examine the effects of MRI on surgical treatment of DCIS by analysing studies comparing preoperative MRI with conventional preoperative assessment.

Methods

Using random-effects modelling, the proportion of women with various outcomes in the MRI versus no-MRI groups was estimated, and the odds ratio (OR) and adjusted OR (adjusted for study-level median age) for each model were calculated.

Results

Nine eligible studies were identified that included 1077 women with DCIS who had preoperative MRI and 2175 who did not. MRI significantly increased the odds of having initial mastectomy (OR 1·72, P = 0·012; adjusted OR 1·76, P = 0·010). There were no significant differences in the proportion of women with positive margins following breast-conserving surgery (BCS) in the MRI and no-MRI groups (OR 0·80, P = 0·059; adjusted OR 1·10, P = 0·716), nor in the necessity of reoperation for positive margins after BCS (OR 1·06, P = 0·759; adjusted OR 1·04, P = 0·844). Overall mastectomy rates did not differ significantly according to whether or not MRI was performed (OR 1·23, P = 0·340; adjusted OR 0·97, P = 0·881).

Conclusion

Preoperative MRI in women with DCIS is not associated with improvement in surgical outcomes.

What should be the width of radiological margin to optimize resection of non-palpable invasive or in situ ductal carcinoma?

PURPOSE

the aim of our study was to investigate whether there is radiological margin that optimize resection of non-palpable invasive or in situ ductal carcinoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data were collected for all patients undergoing wire localization prior to therapeutic surgical excision between January 2010 and December 2013 at our institution. A 5 and 10-mm radiological margins were considered adequate for invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) and in situ ductal carcinoma (DCIS) respectively. Clear histological margins were defined as no ink on the tumor for IDC and ≥2 mm for DCIS. Data were analyzed both in order to assess accuracy of the technique and in order to determine what radiological threshold should be taken.

RESULTS

Three hundred seventy seven women were included to the study. The radiological thresholds permitted negative histological margins in 94.7%, 60.9% and 80.9% in the pure invasive ductal carcinoma group (IDC, n = 133), the pure ductal carcinoma in situ group (DCIS, n = 92) and the mixed group (both IDC and DCIS, n = 152) respectively. In an ROC analysis evaluating the ability of radiological thresholds to obtain free pathological margins: the AUC was 0.79 (0.71-0.87, 95% confident interval, p = .0007) for Pure IDC group, 0.67 (0.57-0.87, 95% confident interval, p = .0005) for pure DCIS group, and 0.72 (0.62-0.80, 95% confident interval, p < .0001) for the mixed group.

CONCLUSION

We found that a radiological margin of 10 mm is needed in presence of an in situ component and 5-mm radiological margin seems enough in case of pure IDC tumors.

MRI-guided breast needle core biopsies: pathologic features of newly diagnosed malignancies

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the breast is used for select groups of patients. MRI-guided breast core needle biopsies performed over a 3-year period were retrospectively reviewed to determine the incidence and types of cancers found and to correlate the cancers with the MRI findings and the indication for the study. Patients were stratified based on indication for MRI examination including, evaluation of disease extent in patients with current ipsilateral carcinoma, surveillance for recurrence of prior ipsilateral carcinoma, as a problem-solving method and for screening high-risk patients. The high-risk screening group included those with family history (with or without germline mutations), prior chest wall radiation, and contralateral breast carcinoma (current or prior). Four-hundred and forty-five biopsies were performed on 386 patients. The majority of biopsies (79%) were benign. Biopsies demonstrating ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and invasive carcinoma were more likely to present as nonmass-like and mass-forming enhancements respectively, but with only 52% specificity. The highest rate of malignancy (44%) was seen in the least frequently biopsied patient group (n = 25), those with prior ipsilateral carcinoma. Conversely, the most frequently biopsied group (n = 283), the high-risk screening group, demonstrated the lowest malignancy rate (16%). Within this group, most malignant cases were invasive carcinomas (n = 27), 67% of which were small (≤1 cm), well or moderately differentiated with a good prognostic receptor profile (estrogen receptor positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative), and lacked nodal macrometastases. The remaining malignant cases in the high-risk screening group were DCIS with or without microinvasion (n = 18), 78% of which demonstrated high nuclear grade. Overall, enhancement pattern did not correlate with the likelihood of or type of malignancy. The most common types of carcinomas identified by screening were small estrogen receptor positive invasive tumors and high grade DCIS.

Adverse surgical outcomes in screen-detected ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast

BACKGROUND

The Sloane Project is the largest prospective audit of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) worldwide, with over 12,000 patients registered between 2003 and 2012, accounting for 50% of screen-detected DCIS diagnosed in the United Kingdom (UK) over the period of accrual.

METHODS

Complete multidisciplinary data from 8313 patients with screen-detected DCIS were analysed for surgical outcome in relation to key radiological and pathological parameters for the cohort and also by hospital of treatment. Adverse surgical outcomes were defined as either failed breast conservation surgery (BCS) or mastectomy for small lesions (<20mm) (MFSL). Inter-hospital variation was analysed by grouping hospitals into high, medium and low frequency subgroups for these two adverse outcomes.

RESULTS

Patients with failed BCS or MFSL together accounted for 49% of all mastectomies. Of 6633 patients embarking on BCS, 799 (12.0%) required mastectomy. MFSL accounted for 510 (21%) of 2479 mastectomy patients. Failed BCS was associated with significant radiological under-estimation of disease extent and MFSL significant radiological over-estimation of disease extent. There was considerable and significant inter-hospital variation in failed BCS (range 3-32%) and MFSL (0-60%) of a hospital's BCS/mastectomy workload respectively. Conversely, there were no differences between the key radiological and pathological parameters in high, medium and low frequency adverse-outcome hospitals.

CONCLUSIONS

This evidence suggests significant practice variation, not patient factors, is responsible for these adverse surgical outcomes in screen-detected DCIS. The Sloane Project provides an evidence base for future practice benchmarking.

Impact of preoperative breast MRI on surgical decision making and clinical outcomes: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is increasingly used in the workup of breast cancer patients and could lead to changes in surgical management. It is unclear how the information gained from MRI studies affects surgical decision making and influences clinical outcomes. These issues are addressed in this review.

METHODS

PubMed database searches were performed to retrieve and analyze respective original research and review articles on preoperative MRI in the evaluation of breast cancer patients.

RESULTS

Preoperative MRI is a highly sensitive but nonspecific method that leads to changes in surgical management with increased numbers of more extended surgical interventions. It appears that a relatively large proportion of MRI-driven changes in surgical management result in overtreatment without conclusively proven beneficial effects on such clinical outcomes as decrease in reoperation rates or improved patient survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Thus, routine use of supplementary preoperative breast MRI should be discouraged until compelling evidence of its effectiveness is available.

Magnetic resonance imaging in patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer: a review of the literature

The use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer remains controversial. Here we review the current use of breast MRI and the impact of MRI on short-term surgical outcomes and rates of local recurrence. In addition, we address the use of MRI in specific patient populations, such as those with ductal carcinoma in situ, invasive lobular carcinoma, and occult primary breast cancer, and discuss the potential role of MRI for assessing response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Although MRI has improved sensitivity compared with conventional imaging, this has not translated into improved short-term surgical outcomes or long-term patient benefit, such as improved local control or survival, in any patient population. MRI is an important diagnostic test in the evaluation of patients presenting with occult primary breast cancer and has shown promise in monitoring response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy; however, the data do not support the routine use of perioperative MRI in patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer. Cancer 2014;120:120:2080-2089. © 2014 American Cancer Society.

Applications for breast magnetic resonance imaging

This article reviews the relevant data on breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) use in screening, the short-term surgical outcomes and long-term cancer outcomes associated with the use of MRI in breast cancer staging, the use of MRI in occult primary breast cancer, as well as MRI to assess eligibility for accelerated partial breast irradiation and to evaluate tumor response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. MRI for screening is supported in specific high-risk populations, namely, women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations, a family history suggesting a hereditary breast cancer syndrome, or a history of chest wall radiation.

Perioperative breast MRI is not associated with lower locoregional recurrence rates in DCIS patients treated with or without radiation

INTRODUCTION

For women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) undergoing breast-conserving surgery (BCS), the benefit of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) remains unknown. Here we examine the relationship of MRI and locoregional recurrence (LRR) and contralateral breast cancer (CBC) for DCIS treated with BCS, with and without radiotherapy (RT).

METHODS

A total of 2,321 women underwent BCS for DCIS from 1997 to 2010. All underwent mammography, and 596 (26 %) also underwent perioperative MRI; 904 women (39 %) did not receive RT, and 1,391 (61 %) did. Median follow-up was 59 months, and 548 women were followed for ≥8 years. The relationship between MRI and LRR was examined using multivariable analysis.

RESULTS

There were 184 LRR events; 5- and 8-year LRR rates were 8.5 and 14.6 % (MRI), respectively, and 7.2 and 10.2 % (no-MRI), respectively (p = 0.52). LRR was significantly associated with age, menopausal status, margin status, RT, and endocrine therapy. After controlling for these variables and family history, presentation, number of excisions, and time period of surgery, there remained no trend toward association of MRI and lower LRR [hazard ratio (HR) 1.18, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.79-1.78, p = 0.42]. Restriction of analysis to the no-RT subgroup showed no association of MRI with lower LRR rates (HR 1.36, 95 % CI 0.78-2.39, p = 0.28). No difference in 5- or 8-year rates of CBC was seen between the MRI (3.5 and 3.5 %) and no-MRI (3.5 and 5.1 %) groups (p = 0.86).

CONCLUSIONS

We observed no association between perioperative MRI and lower LRR or CBC rates in patients with DCIS, with or without RT. In the absence of evidence that MRI improves outcomes, the routine perioperative use of MRI for DCIS should be questioned.

Usefulness of magnetic resonance in patients with invasive cancer eligible for breast conservation: a comparative study

BACKGROUND

The role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in newly detected breast cancer remains controversial. We investigated the impact of preoperative MRI on surgical management of infiltrating breast carcinoma (IBC).

METHODS

We reviewed data of 237 patients with IBC who were suitable for breast-conserving surgery (BCS) between 2009 and 2011. Of these patients, 109 underwent preoperative MRI (46%; MRI group) and 128 did not (54%; no-MRI group). We analyzed MRI-triggered changes in surgical plan and compared differences in rates of positive margins and mastectomy.

RESULTS

Tumor size was larger in the MRI group (16.8 mm vs. 13.9 mm; P < .001). MRI changed the initial surgical planning in 18 of 109 patients (16.5%) because of detection of larger tumor diameter requiring wider resection (8 patients [7.3%]) or additional malignant lesions in the ipsilateral (9 patients [8.2%]) or contralateral breast (1 patient [0.9%]). MRI-triggered treatment changes included mastectomy (n = 12), wider excision (n = 5), and contralateral BCS (n = 1). Reoperation rates for positive margins after BCS appeared higher in the no-MRI group (4.1% vs. 8.6%), but the difference missed statistical significance (P = .9). Overall mastectomy rates were higher in the MRI group (13.7% vs. 7.0%; P < .05). The likelihood of having a change of treatment resulting from MRI was significantly higher for patients with tumors > 15 mm and for those with positive lymph nodes.

CONCLUSION

Lymph node positivity and tumor size > 15 mm may predict an MRI-triggered change in surgical plan. Preoperative MRI resulted in higher mastectomy rates justified by biopsy-proven additional foci of carcinoma and did not significantly reduce reoperation rates for positive margins.

Intra-operative radiological margins assessment in conservative treatment for non-palpable DCIS: correlation to pathological examination and re-excision rate

What constitutes an adequate surgical margin in partial mastectomy is still controversial: intra-operative specimen radiogram is commonly used during partial mastectomy for nonpalpable lesions in order verify the adequacy of the resection but what margin is to be considered “adequate” is still debatable.

An intraoperative specimen mammogram was performed during all consecutive conservative resections for nonpalpable DCIS and a 15-mm radiological margin was considered “adequate”. Margins were pathologically assessed and classified as “negative”, “close” or “positive” and the rate of margin involvement constitued the main outcome of the study.

Among 272 conservative interventions, 80.51% had negative margins at final pathology, 3.31% had close margins and 16.18% had positive margins.

An intraoperative “adequate” margin of 15 mm as defined on intraoperative specimen mammogram granted a high rate of histologically negative margin at primary surgery; this finding was paralleled by confirmation of the treatment as conservative in 95% of cases.

Optimizing surgical margins in breast conservation

Adequate surgical margins in breast-conserving surgery for breast cancer have traditionally been viewed as a predictor of local recurrence rates. There is still no consensus on what constitutes an adequate surgical margin, however it is clear that there is a trade-off between widely clear margins and acceptable cosmesis. Preoperative approaches to plan extent of resection with appropriate margins (in the setting of surgery first as well as after neoadjuvant chemotherapy,) include mammography, US, and MRI. Improvements have been made in preoperative lesion localization strategies for surgery, as well as intraoperative specimen assessment, in order to ensure complete removal of imaging findings and facilitate margin clearance. Intraoperative strategies to accurately assess tumor and cavity margins include cavity shave techniques, as well as novel technologies for margin probes. Ablative techniques, including radiofrequency ablation as well as intraoperative radiation, may be used to extend tumor-free margins without resecting additional tissue. Oncoplastic techniques allow for wider resections while maintaining cosmesis and have acceptable local recurrence rates, however often involve surgery on the contralateral breast. As systemic therapy for breast cancer continues to improve, it is unclear what the importance of surgical margins on local control rates will be in the future.

Use of MRI in preoperative planning for women with newly diagnosed DCIS: risk or benefit?

BACKGROUND

The role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in preoperative planning for women diagnosed with breast cancer remains controversial. The risks and benefits in women with newly diagnosed ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) are largely unknown.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Retrospective chart review comparing women treated for DCIS who did and did not undergo MRI for preoperative planning. End points included number of additional biopsies prompted by MRI, surgical reexcision rates, weight of excisions, mastectomy rates, and conversion to mastectomy after attempted breast conservation.

RESULTS

218 patients met study criteria. Sixty-four patients did not undergo preoperative MRI, and 154 patients did. There was no statistically significant difference (P = not significant, NS) in reexcision rates between the 34.1 % (42/123) of women who did and 20/51 (39.2 %) women who did not undergo MRI. Despite use of preoperative MRI, 11/123 women (8.9 %) were converted to mastectomy due to positive margins compared with 4/51 (7.8 %) in the women who did not undergo MRI (P = NS). In women undergoing MRI, average weight of excision at definitive surgery was 49.5 g, while in women who did not undergo MRI, average weight of excision at definitive surgery was 48.7 g.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data show that MRI does not significantly decrease reexcision rates or conversion to mastectomy after attempted breast-conservation surgery. Based on our findings, we do not believe preoperative MRI adds benefit to the care of this patient population. Prospective trials are necessary to further investigate the risks and benefits of preoperative MRI in women with DCIS.