A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of the Role of Preoperative MRI in In-breast Tumor Recurrence After Breast-Conserving Surgery

BACKGROUND

It is unknown whether the identification of additional tumors in the breast using preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (pMRI) results in a lower risk of in-breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) after breast-conserving surgery (BCS).

METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis of relevant studies were performed. The study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

RESULTS

From 768 citations, 20 studies met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review. The 20 studies consisted of 14 retrospective reviews, 3 matched cohorts, and 3 randomized controlled trials. Whereas 2 studies reported a statistically significant lower rate of IBTR with pMRI, 18 studies showed no difference, and no studies reported a higher rate. Of the 18 studies showing no significant difference, 12 demonstrated a trend toward a lower IBTR rate in the pMRI group. The criteria for meta-analysis were met by 16 studies. A meta-analysis of 11 studies that reported hazard ratios (HR) for IBTR showed a trend toward a lower rate of IBTR for patients who received preoperative MRI (hazard ratio (HR), 0.89; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.74-1.05). A meta-analysis of five studies that reported event rates and had similar follow-up duration for both groups demonstrated a lower relative risk (RR) of IBTR (RR, 0.45; 95% CI 0.25-0.81).

CONCLUSIONS

Although some evidence supports the hypothesis that identification of additional tumors in the breast using pMRI results in lower rates of IBTR after BCS, the main meta-analysis in this study did not confirm this hypothesis.

ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Imaging of Invasive Breast Cancer

As the proportion of women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer increases, the role of imaging for staging and surveillance purposes should be determined based on evidence-based guidelines. It is important to understand the indications for extent of disease evaluation and staging, as unnecessary imaging can delay care and even result in adverse outcomes. In asymptomatic patients that received treatment for curative intent, there is no role for imaging to screen for distant recurrence. Routine surveillance with an annual 2-D mammogram and/or tomosynthesis is recommended to detect an in-breast recurrence or a new primary breast cancer in women with a history of breast cancer, and MRI is increasingly used as an additional screening tool in this population, especially in women with dense breasts. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision process support the systematic analysis of the medical literature from peer reviewed journals. Established methodology principles such as Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE are adapted to evaluate the evidence. The RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method User Manual provides the methodology to determine the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where peer reviewed literature is lacking or equivocal, experts may be the primary evidentiary source available to formulate a recommendation.

The Impact of Preoperative Breast MRI on Timing of Surgical Management in Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer

Purpose: Preoperative breast MRI has been recommended at our center since 2016 for invasive lobular carcinoma and cancers in dense breasts. This study examined how preoperative breast MRI impacted surgical timing and outcomes for patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer. Methods: Retrospective single-center study of consecutive women diagnosed with new breast cancer between June 1, 2019, and March 1, 2021, in whom preoperative breast MRI was recommended. MRI, tumor histology, breast density, post-MRI biopsy, positive predictive value of biopsy (PPV3), surgery, and margin status were recorded. Time from diagnosis to surgery was compared using t-tests. Results: There were 1054 patients reviewed, and 356 were included (mean age 60.9). Of these, 44.4% (158/356) underwent preoperative breast MRI, and 55.6% (198/356) did not. MRI referral was more likely for invasive lobular carcinoma, multifocal disease, and younger patients. Following preoperative MRI, 29.1% (46/158) patients required additional breast biopsies before surgery, for a PPV3 of 37% (17/46). The time between biopsy and surgery was 55.8 ± 21.4 days for patients with the MRI, compared to 42.8 ± 20.3 days for those without (P < .00001). MRI was not associated with the type of surgery (mastectomy vs breastconserving surgery) (P = .44) or rate of positive surgical margins (P = .52). Conclusion: Among patients who underwent preoperative breast MRI, we observed significant delays to surgery by almost 2 weeks. When preoperative MRI is requested, efforts should be made to mitigate associated delays.

The accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging in predicting the size of pure ductal carcinoma in situ: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a putative precursor of invasive breast cancer and MRI is considered the most sensitive imaging technique for its detection. This study aims to evaluate the accuracy of MRI measuring the pure DCIS size, against pathology, to better understand the role of MRI in the management of this intraductal neoplasm.Potentially eligible studies in MEDLINE, Embase and Google Scholar, up to January 2021 were considered, and a systematic review and meta-analysis according to the published protocol (Prospero-CRD42021232228) was performed. Outcomes of mean differences and accuracy rates were analysed using IBM^® SPSS^® v26 and random-effect models in platform R v3.3.Twenty-two cross-sectional studies were selected and 15 proceeded to meta-analysis. MRI accurately predicted 55% of the tumours' sizes and, according to Bland-Altman plots, concordance between MRI and pathology was greater for smaller tumours. In the meta-analysis, difference of the means between MRI and pathology was 3.85 mm (CI 95% [-0.92;8.60]) with considerable heterogeneity (I2 = 96.7%). Subgroup analysis showed similar results for sizes between different MRI fields, temporal resolution, slice thickness and acquisition times, but lower heterogeneity in studies using 3-T MRI (I2 = 57.2%). Results were concordant with low risk of bias studies (2.46, CI 95% [0.57-4.36]), without heterogeneity (I2 = 0%).Therefore, MRI is shown to be an accurate method in pure DCIS size assessment. Once the best MRI protocol is established, evaluation of the impact of pure DCIS size in predicting treatment outcomes will contribute to clarifying current issues related to intraductal breast carcinoma.

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.

Preoperative tumor size measurement in breast cancer patients: which threshold is appropriate on computer-aided detection for breast MRI?

Background

Computer-aided detection (CAD) can detect breast lesions by using an enhancement threshold. Threshold means the percentage of increased signal intensity in post-contrast imaging compared to precontrast imaging. If the pixel value of the enhanced tumor increases above the set threshold, CAD provides the size of the tumor, which is calculated differently depending on the set threshold. Therefore, CAD requires the accurate setting of thresholds. We aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of tumor size measurement using MRI and CAD with 3 most commonly used thresholds and to identify which threshold is appropriate on CAD in breast cancer patients.

Methods

A total of 130 patients with breast cancers (80 invasive cancers and 50 ductal carcinoma in situ [DCIS]) who underwent preoperative MRI with CAD and surgical treatment were included. Tumor size was manually measured on first contrast-enhanced MRI and acquired by CAD using 3 different thresholds (30, 50, and 100%) for each tumor. Tumor size measurements using MRI and CAD were compared with pathological sizes using Spearman correlation analysis. For comparison of size discrepancy between imaging and pathology, concordance was defined as estimation of size by imaging within 5 mm of the pathological size. Concordance rates were compared using Chi-square test.

Results

For both invasive cancers and DCIS, correlation coefficient rho (r) between tumor size on imaging and pathology was highest at CAD with 30% threshold, followed by MRI, CAD with 50% threshold, and CAD with 100% threshold (all p <  0.05). For invasive cancers, the concordance rate of 72.5% at CAD with 30% threshold showed no difference with that of 62.5% at MRI (p = 0.213). For DCIS, the concordance rate of 30.0% at CAD with 30% threshold showed no difference with that of 36.0% at MRI (p = 0.699). Compared to MRI, higher risk of underestimation was noted when using CAD with 50% or 100% threshold for invasive cancers and when using CAD with 100% threshold for DCIS.

Conclusion

For CAD analysis, 30% threshold is the most appropriate threshold whose accuracy is comparable to manual measurement on MRI for tumor size measurement. However, clinicians should be aware of the higher risk of underestimation when using CAD with 50% threshold for tumor staging in invasive cancers.

Non-clinical Drivers of Variation in Preoperative MRI Utilization for Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND

Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) utilization in breast cancer treatment has increased significantly over the past 2 decades, but its use continues to have interprovider variability and disputed clinical indications.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate non-clinical factors associated with preoperative breast MRI utilization.

METHODS

This study utilized TRICARE claims data from 2006 to 2015. TRICARE provides health benefits for active duty service members, retirees, and their dependents at both military (direct care with salaried physicians) and civilian (purchased care under fee-for-service structure) facilities. We studied patients aged 25-64 years with a breast cancer diagnosis who had undergone mammogram/ultrasound (MMG/US) alone or with subsequent breast MRI prior to surgery. Facility characteristics included urban-rural location according to the National Center for Health Statistics classification. Adjusted multivariable logistic regression tests were used to identify independent factors associated with preoperative breast MRI utilization.

RESULTS

Of the 25,392 identified patients, 64.7% (n = 16,428) received preoperative MMG/US alone, while 35.3% (n = 8964) underwent additional MRI. Younger age, Charlson Comorbidity Index score ≥ 2, active duty or retired beneficiary category, officer rank (surrogate for socioeconomic status), Air Force service branch, metropolitan location, and purchased care were associated with an increased likelihood of preoperative MRI utilization. Non-metropolitan location and Navy service branch were associated with decreased MRI use.

CONCLUSION

After controlling for expected clinical risk factors, patients were more likely to receive additional MRI when treated at metropolitan facilities or through the fee-for-service system. Both associations may point toward non-clinical incentives to perform MRI in the treatment of breast cancer.

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.

Clinical and pathological stage discordance among 433,514 breast cancer patients

BACKGROUND

We aim to determine clinical and pathological stage discordance rates and to evaluate factors associated with discordance.

METHODS

Adults with clinical stages I-III breast cancer were identified from the National Cancer Data Base. Concordance was defined as cTN = pTN (discordance: cTN≠pTN). Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with discordance.

RESULTS

Comparing clinical and pathological stage, 23.1% were downstaged and 8.7% were upstaged. After adjustment, factors associated with downstaging (vs concordance) included grade 3 (OR 10.56, vs grade 1) and HER2-negative (OR 3.79). Factors associated with upstaging (vs concordance) were grade 3 (OR 10.56, vs grade 1), HER2-negative (OR 1.25), and lobular histology (OR 2.47, vs ductal). ER-negative status was associated with stage concordance (vs downstaged or upstaged, OR 0.52 and 0.87).

CONCLUSIONS

Among breast cancer patients, nearly one-third exhibit clinical-pathological stage discordance. This high likelihood of discordance is important to consider for counseling and treatment planning.

Long-term survival outcomes in invasive lobular carcinoma patients with and without preoperative MR imaging: a matched cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate and compare the effect of preoperative breast magnetic resonance (MR) imaging on recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) outcomes among patients with invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC).

METHODS

A total of 287 ILC patients between January 2005 and December 2012 were included. One hundred twenty (41.8%) had undergone preoperative breast MR imaging (MR group) and 167 (58.2%) had not (no MR group). Two groups were matched for 21 covariates in terms of patient demographics, tumor characteristics, and clinical features. We compared unmatched variables between the patients with and without breast MR imaging using the chi-square or Student's t test. Comparisons of matched data were performed with McNemar's test or test of symmetry for categorical variables and paired t test for continuous variables. The RFS and OS outcomes were compared using the Kaplan-Meier estimates. MR effects were estimated after adjusting for significant potential confounders of specific outcomes in the multivariable modeling.

RESULTS

In the matched cohort, no statistically significant association was observed between MR imaging and total recurrence (hazard ratio [HR], 1.096; p = 0.821), loco-regional recurrence (HR, 1.204; p = 0.796), contralateral breast recurrence (HR, 0.945; p = 0.952), or distant recurrence (HR, 1.020; p = 0.973). MR imaging was associated with improved OS with 51% reduction, but not significantly (HR, 0.485; p = 0.231). Analysis with multivariable Cox regression model indicated that MR imaging was not significant independent factor for better RFS (HR, 0.823; p = 0.586) or improved OS (HR, 0.478; p = 0.168).

CONCLUSION

Preoperative MR imaging is not significant prognostic factor and produces no apparent recurrence or survival outcome benefits in ILC patients.

KEY POINTS

• Preoperative breast MR imaging in invasive lobular carcinoma was associated with a better overall survival with 51% reduction, but not statistically significant. • Preoperative breast MR imaging does not show significant prognostic value in invasive lobular carcinoma as there is no apparent benefit in terms of recurrence or survival outcomes.

Timing and Delays in Breast Cancer Evaluation and Treatment

BACKGROUND

Even small delays in the treatment of breast cancer are a frequently expressed concern of patients. Knowledge about this subject is important for clinicians to counsel patients appropriately and realistically, while also optimizing care. Although data and quality measures regarding time to chemotherapy and radiotherapy have been present for some time, data regarding surgical care are more recent and no standard exists. This review was written to discuss our current knowledge about the relationship of treatment times to outcomes.

METHODS

The published medical literature addressing delays and optimal times to treatment was reviewed in the context of our current time-dependent standards for chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The surgical literature and the lack of a time-dependent surgical standard also were discussed, suggesting a possible standard.

RESULTS

Risk factors for delay are numerous, and tumor doubling times are both difficult to determine and unhelpful to assess the impact of longer treatment times on outcomes. Evaluation components also have a time cost and are inextricable from the patient's workup. Although the published literature has lack of uniformity, optimal times to each modality are strongly suggested by emerging data, supporting the current quality measures. Times to surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy all have a measurable impact on outcomes, including disease-free survival, disease-specific survival, and overall survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Delays have less of an impact than often thought but have a measurable impact on outcomes. Optimal times from diagnosis are < 90 days for surgery, < 120 days for chemotherapy, and, where chemotherapy is administered, < 365 days for radiotherapy.

Does the use of pretreatment MRI change the management of patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer?

Breast MRI plays a critical role in the diagnosis and management of breast cancer. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of preoperative breast MRI on the management of a large cohort of breast cancer patients at our institution. This study is a retrospective chart review of all newly diagnosed breast cancer patients who underwent preoperative breast MRI at our institution between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2009. 1352 patients comprised the study population. 241 (17.8%) patients underwent a change in surgical management as a result of preoperative MRI. Patients with tumors in the lower inner quadrant and the central breast and those with pathology of invasive lobular carcinoma were significantly more likely to have their management changed by preoperative MRI. There was also a significant trend for larger tumors to be associated with a change in surgical management. No statistically significant association was found between breast density and change in management. This study supports the recommendation for the use of preoperative breast MRI in the majority of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, especially those with larger tumors, pathology of invasive lobular carcinoma, and tumors in the lower inner quadrant. Preoperative breast MRI is a useful tool for the evaluation of additional disease that led to a change in the surgical management of 17.8% of patients.

Estimation of tumor size in breast cancer comparing clinical examination, mammography, ultrasound and MRI-correlation with the pathological analysis of the surgical specimen

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the best method in our center to measure preoperative tumor size in breast tumors, using as reference the tumor size in the postoperative surgical specimen. We compared physical examination vs. mammography vs. resonance vs. ultrasound. There are different studies in the literature with disparate results.

METHODS

This is a retrospective study. All the included patients have been studied by clinical examination performed by gynecologist or surgeon specialists in senology, and radiological tests (mammography, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging). The correlation of mammary examination, ultrasound, mammography and resonance with pathological anatomy was studied using the Pearson index. Subsequently, the results of such imaging tests were compared with the tumor size of the infiltrating component measured by anatomopathological study using a student's t test for related variables. The level of significance was set at 95%. Statistical package R. was used.

RESULTS

A total of 73 cases were collected from October 2015 to July 2016 with diagnosis of infiltrating breast carcinoma. Twelve cases of carcinoma in situ and seven cases of neoadjuvant carcinoma are excluded. Finally, a total of 56 cases were included in the analysis. The mean age of the patients is 57 years. The histology is of infiltrating ductal carcinoma in 46 patients (80.7%), lobular in 8 (14%) and other carcinomas in 3 cases (5.2%). We verified the relationship between preoperative tumor size by physical examination, mammography, ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and the final size of the surgical specimen by applying a Pearson correlation test. A strong correlation was found between the physical examination results 0.62 (0.43-0.76 at 95% CI), ultrasound 0.68 (0.51-0.8 at 95% CI), mammography 0.57 (0.36-0.72 at 95% CI) and RM 0.51 (0.29-0.68 at 95% CI) with respect to pathological anatomy. The mean tumor size of the surgical specimen was 16.1 mm. Mean of tumor size by physical examination was 12.1 mm (P<0.05), by 14 mm US (P<0.05), by mammography of 14.3 (P<0.05) and by MRI of 22.53 mm (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Ultrasonography is the best predictor of tumor size in breast cancer, compared with clinical examination, mammography, and resonance. Our work could help the decision-making process such as the type of conservative surgery, the possible need for oncoplastic surgery or the decision to start treatment with neoadjuvant therapy, in patients with unifocal tumors.

Breast MRI in the Diagnostic and Preoperative Workup Among Medicare Beneficiaries With Breast Cancer

PURPOSE

We compared the frequency and sequence of breast imaging and biopsy use for the diagnostic and preoperative workup of breast cancer according to breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) use among older women.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Using SEER-Medicare data from 2004 to 2010, we identified women with and without breast MRI as part of their diagnostic and preoperative breast cancer workup and measured the number and sequence of breast imaging and biopsy events per woman.

RESULTS

A total of 10,766 (20%) women had an MRI in the diagnostic/preoperative period, 32,178 (60%) had mammogram and ultrasound, and 10,669 (20%) had mammography alone. MRI use increased across study years, tripling from 2005 to 2009 (9%-29%). Women with MRI had higher rates of breast imaging and biopsy compared with those with mammogram and ultrasound or those with mammography alone (5.8 vs. 4.1 vs. 2.8, respectively). There were 4254 unique sequences of breast events; the dominant patterns for women with MRI were an MRI occurring at the end of the care pathway. Among women receiving an MRI postdiagnosis, 26% had a subsequent biopsy compared with 51% receiving a subsequent biopsy in the subgroup without MRI.

CONCLUSIONS

Older women who receive breast MRI undergo additional breast imaging and biopsy events. There is much variability in the diagnostic/preoperative work-up in older women, demonstrating the opportunity to increase standardization to optimize care for all women.

Clinical accuracy of preoperative breast MRI for breast cancer

BACKGROUND

It is unclear if breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is more accurate than mammography (MGM) and ultrasound (U/S) in aggregate for patients with invasive cancer.

METHODS

We compared concordance of combined tumor size and tumor foci between MRI and MGM and U/S combined to pathological tumor size and foci as the gold standard from 2009 to 2015. Tumor size was nonconcordant if it differed from the pathologic size by ≥33% and tumor foci was nonconcordant if >1 foci were seen. If one or both of the MGM or U/S was nonconcordant and the MRI was concordant, MRI provided greater accuracy.

RESULTS

Of 471 patients with MGM, US, and MRI, MRI was more accurate for 32.9% of patients for tumor size and for 21.9% for tumor foci. Patients for whom MRI had greater accuracy were compared to those who did not for clinical and tumor factors. The only significant factor was calcifications on mammography. Tumor size, stage, molecular subtype, histology, grade, patient BMI, age, mammographic density, and use of hormone replacement therapy were not significantly different.

CONCLUSIONS

Breast MRI provides greater accuracy for a third of patients undergoing preoperative MGM and U/S. Mammographic calcifications were associated with MRI clinical accuracy for patients with invasive cancer.

Selective magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in invasive lobular breast cancer based on mammographic density: does it lead to an appropriate change in surgical treatment?

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether high mammographic density can be used as one of the selection criteria for MRI in invasive lobular breast cancer (ILC).

METHODS

In our institute, high breast density has been used as one of the indications for performing MRI scan in patients with ILC. We divided the patients in two groups, one with MRI performed pre-operatively and other without MRI. We compared their surgical procedures and analyzed whether surgical plan was altered after MRI. In case of alteration of plan, we analyzed whether the change was adequate by comparing post-operative histological findings.

RESULTS

Between 2011 and 2015, there were a total of 1601 breast cancers with 97 lobular cancers, out of which 36 had pre-operative MRI and 61 had no MRI scan. 12 (33.3%) had mastectomy following MRI, out of which 9 (25%) had change in surgical plan from conservation to mastectomy following MRI. There were no unnecessary mastectomies in the MRI group. However, utilization of MRI in this cohort of patients did not reduce reoperation rate (19.3%). Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) was identified in 60% of reoperations on post-surgical histology. Patients in the "No MRI" group had higher mastectomy rate 26 (42.6%), which was again appropriate.

CONCLUSION

High mammographic density is a useful risk stratification criterion for selective MRI in ILC within a multidisciplinary team meeting setting. Provided additional lesions identified on MRI are confirmed with biopsy, pre-operative MRI does not cause unnecessary mastectomies. Used in this selective manner, reoperation rates were not eliminated, albeit reduced when compared to literature.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

High mammographic breast density can be used as one of the selection criteria for pre-operative MRI in ILC without an increase in inappropriate mastectomies with potential time and cost savings. In this cohort, re-excisions were not reduced markedly with pre-operative MRI.

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.

Comparative accuracy of preoperative tumor size assessment on mammography, sonography, and MRI: Is the accuracy affected by breast density or cancer subtype?

PURPOSE

To compare the accuracy of preoperative breast tumor size measurements obtained on three imaging modalities (mammography [MM], sonography [US], and MRI) with those obtained on final pathologic examination for different breast densities and various tumor types.

METHODS

Records from patients who underwent breast cancer lumpectomy between 2008 and 2012 and in whom tumor was seen on all three imaging modalities were retrospectively reviewed for maximum tumor size measurements. Patients with positive tumor margins and those who had undergone neoadjuvant chemotherapy were excluded. Tumor size measurements obtained on the three imaging modalities were compared for accuracy with those obtained during the final pathologic examination. Differences were analyzed for the whole group and for subgroups according to breast density and tumor type.

RESULTS

In total, 57 patients were included, in whom wire-localization lumpectomy was performed without neoadjuvant chemotherapy; negative surgical margins for tumor were obtained, and tumor was preoperatively visualized on all three imaging modalities. The mean (± SEM) tumor size measured on MRI was significantly greater than that measured on pathology (p < 0.001), whereas the sizes measured on US and MM were not statistically significantly different from that measured on pathology (p = 0.62 and p = 0.57). Tumor size measured on MRI was greater than that measured on both US and MM (p = 0.003 and p < 0.001). Compared with the measurements obtained on pathology, that obtained on US showed moderate agreement (Lin concordance correlation coefficient [CCC], 0.71; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.56-0.82); poorer agreement was found for the sizes obtained on MM (CCC, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.38-0.72) and MRI (CCC, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.31-0.65). No difference in comparative accuracy of size measurement was noted between dense and nondense breast tissue. MRI overestimated tumor size in ductal cancers (p < 0.001) and slightly underestimated it in lobular cancers.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative MRI significantly overestimated tumor size. Measurements obtained on US and MM were more accurate irrespective of breast density, with US measurements being slightly more accurate than MM measurements.

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.

Breast Cancer in the Elderly: Is MRI Helpful?

Appropriate use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in elderly breast cancer (BC) patients remains unclear; we sought to identify the indications and implications of MRI use in our elderly BC population. Women 70 years of age or older at first BC diagnosis with an MRI performed at our institution either perioperatively or in follow-up were included from a prospectively maintained database from 2000 to 2010. Univariate logistic regression was used to test associations with disease identified by MRI only (additional ipsilateral, contralateral, or new cancer) following perioperative MRI. 305 BCs were imaged in 286 patients. 133 were imaged with MRI in the perioperative setting alone, 88 had only follow-up MRIs after BC treatment, and 65 had both. Indications for perioperative MRI include: extent of disease evaluation (181; 91%); occult primary (10; 5%); high-risk screening (5; 3%); and abnormal physical exam with negative conventional imaging (2; 1%). Disease identified by MRI only for occult primary cases was 4/10 (40%; 95% confidence interval: 12.2-73.8%) and 14/181 (7.7%; 95% confidence interval: 4.3-12.6%) for perioperative MRIs performed for extent of disease evaluation. Analysis of imaging and tumor characteristics failed to find significant predictors of disease identified by MRI only. A total of 369 post-treatment follow-up MRIs were performed in 148 patients with a median of 2 MRIs per patient (range 1-8), with seven cases of disease identified by MRI only (1.9%; 95% confidence interval: 0.8-3.9%). MRI had the greatest benefit in women presenting with an occult primary cancer and minimal additional benefit in elderly patients with BC undergoing MRI imaging for extent of disease evaluation or in post-treatment surveillance.

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.

T 1 relaxation measurement of ex-vivo breast cancer tissues at ultralow magnetic fields

We investigated T 1 relaxations of ex-vivo cancer tissues at low magnetic fields in order to check the possibility of achieving a T 1 contrast higher than those obtained at high fields. The T 1 relaxations of fifteen pairs (normal and cancerous) of breast tissue samples were measured at three magnetic fields, 37, 62, and 122 μT, using our superconducting quantum interference device-based ultralow field nuclear magnetic resonance setup, optimally developed for ex-vivo tissue studies. A signal reconstruction based on Bayesian statistics for noise reduction was exploited to overcome the low signal-to-noise ratio. The ductal and lobular-type tissues did not exhibit meaningful T 1 contrast values between normal and cancerous tissues at the three different fields. On the other hand, an enhanced T 1 contrast was obtained for the mucinous cancer tissue.

The oncoplastic reduction approach to breast conservation therapy: benefits for margin control

BACKGROUND

Reduction mammaplasty during lumpectomy allows more generous resection and minimizes potential for poor cosmesis as compared with breast conservation therapy alone.

OBJECTIVES

The authors assessed the benefits of oncoplastic reduction for margin status in patients with breast cancer by conducting a retrospective review of cases of tumor resection alone vs tumor resection with oncoplastic reduction.

METHODS

Patients with breast cancer who underwent lumpectomy performed by a single oncologic surgeon between 2009 and 2013 were included. Patients were stratified into 2 groups based on surgical procedure: tumor resection with oncoplastic reduction (group 1) vs tumor resection alone (group 2). Patient demographics including risk factors, diagnosis, cancer stage, and procedure type were recorded. Tumor size, specimen weight, width of narrowest margin, and receptor status were determined. Outcome variables included margin positivity (≤1 mm), need for re-excision, and conversion to completion mastectomy.

RESULTS

A total of 222 breasts from 207 patients were included in the study: 83 in group 1 and 139 in group 2. The patients in group 1 had a lower incidence of positive margins and wider free surgical margins, required re-excision less often, and went on to completion mastectomy less often. Patients in group 1 were younger and had cancer that was more advanced. When controlling for these variables on multivariate regression analysis, the oncoplastic technique was independently associated with fewer positive margins and fewer instances of re-excision.

CONCLUSIONS

The oncoplastic reduction technique achieves wider free margins and less often necessitates re-excision or subsequent mastectomy. The long-term oncologic effect of this approach deserves further study.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4.

Impact of thyroid nodule size on prevalence and post-test probability of malignancy: a systematic review

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS

Large thyroid nodules may be associated with higher risk of malignancy and less-accurate fine-needle aspiration (FNA) results, but there is currently no overarching consensus. We therefore tested two null hypotheses: 1) thyroid nodule size >3 to 4 cm is not associated with a higher baseline prevalence of malignancy (i.e., the associated pretest probability is the same, regardless of size), and 2) thyroid nodule size >3 to 4 cm is not associated with worse diagnostic accuracy (i.e., the associated sensitivity, false-negative rate, and post-test probability of malignancy is not affected by nodule diameter).

STUDY DESIGN

Computerized searches of PubMed, Embase, and The Cochrane Library through July 2013 were performed, supplemented with manual searches.

METHODS

A priori criteria were defined to determine inclusion and exclusion of studies. Searches and data extraction were performed by independent reviewers and focused on FNA histopathologic findings and their relationship to nodule size, study design, and potential confounders.

RESULTS

Criterion-meeting studies (n = 15) included a total of 13,180 participants. The preponderance of prospective comparative studies showed a statistically significantly higher prevalence of malignancy in large nodules. Although data are mixed, evidence from the best-reported studies suggests sensitivity, false-negative rates, and frequency of true negatives among benign FNA results are worse in large nodules.

CONCLUSIONS

Large nodules have a higher pretest probability of malignancy. Data from larger studies suggest reduced FNA diagnostic accuracy in nodules >3 to 4 cm in diameter. Surgery represents a reasonable clinical option for nodules >3 cm.

Current clinical indications for magnetic resonance imaging of the breast

MRI is increasingly used in breast cancer patients. MRI has a high sensitivity compared to mammography and ultrasound. The specificity is moderate leading to an increased risk of false positive findings. Currently, a beneficial effect of breast MRI has been established in some patient groups and is debated in the general breast cancer population. The diagnostic ability of MRI and its role in various groups of breast cancer patients are discussed in this review.

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.

Preoperative breast MRI and surgical outcomes in elderly women with invasive ductal and lobular carcinoma: a population-based study

Existing evidence suggests that preoperative breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) might not improve surgical outcomes in the general breast cancer population. To determine if patients differentially benefit from breast MRI, we examined surgical outcomes-initial mastectomy, reoperation, and final mastectomy rates-among patients grouped by histologic type. We identified women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer from 2004 to 2007 in the SEER-Medicare dataset. We classified patients as having invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), mixed ductal/lobular carcinoma (IDLC) or other histologic type. Medicare claims were used to identify breast MRI and definitive surgeries during the initial surgical treatment episode. We used propensity score methods to account for the differential likelihood of exposure to MRI. Of the 20,332 patients who met our inclusion criteria for this study, 12.2 % had a preoperative breast MRI. Patients with ILC as compared to other histologic groups were most likely to receive MRI [OR 2.32; 95 % CI (2.02-2.67)]. In the propensity score-adjusted analyses, breast MRI was associated with an increased likelihood of an initial mastectomy for all patients and among all histologic subgroups. Among patients with ILC, having a breast MRI was associated with lower odds of a reoperation [OR 0.59; 95 % CI (0.40-0.86)], and an equal likelihood of a final mastectomy compared to similar patients without a breast MRI. Overall and among patients with IDC and IDLC, breast MRI was not significantly associated with a likelihood of a reoperation but was associated with greater odds of a final mastectomy. Our study provides evidence in support of the targeted use of preoperative breast MRI among patients with ILC to improve surgical planning; it does not provide evidence for the routine use of breast MRI among all newly diagnosed breast cancer patients or among patients with IDC.

Local and regional staging of invasive breast cancer with sonography: 25 years of practice at MD Anderson Cancer Center

At The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, we have used sonography (US) extensively for more than 2 decades to refine the local and regional staging of invasive breast cancer. Although magnetic resonance imaging is superior to all other imaging modalities in the measurement of the primary tumor and detection of additional foci of malignancy, in our experience US has shown sufficient accuracy in clinical practice to stage most invasive breast cancers. The exceptions are ill-defined tumors such as invasive lobular cancers and tumors in breasts containing extensive diffuse benign disease. An advantage of US is that multifocality or multicentricity can be confirmed via US-guided fine-needle aspiration within 15 minutes and the information shared immediately with the patient and the breast surgeon or medical oncologist. US has also proved indispensable in the evaluation of lymphatic spread because it can evaluate more nodal basins (e.g., the supraclavicular fossa and low neck) than magnetic resonance imaging can and because it can guide needle biopsy to confirm the status of any indeterminate node (including internal mammary nodes) within minutes.

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.

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.