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

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.

Breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Preoperative Evaluation of Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Purpose: Preoperative breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is known to detect additional cancers that are occult on mammography and ultrasound. There is debate as to whether these additional lesions affect clinical outcomes. The objective of this systematic review was to summarize the evidence on whether additional information on disease extent obtained with preoperative breast MRI in patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer affects surgical management, rates of recurrence, survival, re-excision, and early detection of bilateral cancer. Methods: Embase, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched until January 2021 (partial update July 2022) for studies comparing outcomes with versus without pre-operative MRI. Included were both randomized controlled trials and other comparative studies provided MRI and control groups had equivalent disease and patient characteristics or methods such as multivariable analysis or propensity score matching were used to control potential confounders. Results: The search resulted in 26,399 citations, of which 8 randomized control trials, 1 prospective cohort study, and 42 retrospective studies met the inclusion criteria. Use of MRI resulted in decreased rates of reoperations (OR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.63 to 0.85), re-excisions (OR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.45 to 0.89), and recurrence (HR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.65 to 0.90). Increased detection of synchronous contralateral breast cancers led to a reduction in metachronous contralateral breast cancer (HR = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.59 to 0.85). Hazard ratios for recurrence-free and overall survival were 0.77 (95% CI = 0.53 to 1.12) and 0.89 (95% CI = 0.74 to 1.07). Conclusion: This systematic review indicates substantial benefits of pre-operative breast MRI in decreasing reoperations and recurrence.

Preoperative Breast MRI: Current Evidence and Patient Selection

Breast MRI is the most sensitive imaging modality for the assessment of newly diagnosed breast cancer extent and can detect additional mammographically and clinically occult breast cancers in the ipsilateral and contralateral breasts. Nonetheless, appropriate use of breast MRI in the setting of newly diagnosed breast cancer remains debated. Though highly sensitive, MRI is less specific and may result in false positives and overestimation of disease when MRI findings are not biopsied prior to surgical excision. Furthermore, improved anatomic depiction of breast cancer on MRI has not consistently translated to improved clinical outcomes, such as lower rates of re-excision or breast cancer recurrence, though there is a paucity of well-designed studies examining these issues. In addition, current treatment paradigms have been developed in the absence of this more accurate depiction of disease span, which likely has limited the value of MRI. These issues have led to inconsistent and variable utilization of preoperative MRI across practice settings and providers. In this review, we discuss the history of breast MRI and its current use and recommendations with a focus on the preoperative setting. We review the evidence surrounding the use of preoperative MRI in the evaluation of breast malignancies and discuss the data on breast MRI in the setting of specific patient factors often used to determine breast MRI eligibility, such as age, index tumor phenotype, and breast density. Finally, we review the impact of breast MRI on surgical outcomes (re-excision and mastectomy rates) and long-term breast recurrence and survival outcomes.

Does pre-operative breast MRI have an impact on surgical outcomes in high-grade DCIS?

OBJECTIVES

High-grade DCIS (HG DCIS) is associated with upgrade to invasive disease but few studies evaluate the role of MRI in this subset of DCIS. This study compared surgical outcomes of females with HG DCIS on biopsy who had pre-operative MRI with those that proceeded directly to surgery.

METHODS

This single-centre retrospective, observational study identified patients with pure HG DCIS on pre-operative biopsy from the pathology database. Surgical outcomes, clinicopathological and radiological features were obtained for all patients.

RESULTS

From August 2015 to February 2020, 217 patients had HG DCIS on biopsy. Pre-operative MRI was performed in 40 (MRI group) and not in 88 (No MRI group) patients. Initial mastectomy was performed in 25/40 (63%) women in the MRI group and 20/88 (23%) women in the no MRI group (p < 0.0001). No difference was observed in re-operation rate between the two groups, 15% in MRI group vs 22% in No MRI group (p = 0.4749). Mean tumour size on histology was larger in mastectomy cases in the MRI group (73.4 mm, range 6-140 mm), than the total MRI group, (58.3 mm, range 0-140 mm) or no MRI group (30.7 mm, range 0-130 mm) (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Pre-operative MRI in HG DCIS is associated with higher mastectomy rates, possibly due to patient selection for MRI, as tumours on final histology were significantly larger. Fewer re-operations were observed in the MRI group although this was not significant.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

Breast MRI performed pre-operatively in HG DCIS is associated with higher mastectomy rates and fewer re-operation rates.

Racial Disparities in Time to Treatment Persist in the Setting of a Comprehensive Breast Center

BACKGROUND

Racial disparities in breast cancer care have been linked to treatment delays. We explored whether receiving care at a comprehensive breast center could mitigate disparities in time to treatment.

METHODS

Retrospective chart review identified breast cancer patients who underwent surgery from 2012 to 2018 at a comprehensive breast center. Time-to-treatment intervals were compared among self-identified racial and ethnic groups by negative binomial regression models.

RESULTS

Overall, 2094 women met the inclusion criteria: 1242 (59%) White, 262 (13%) Black, 302 (14%) Hispanic, 105 (5%) Asian, and 183 (9%) other race or ethnicity. Black and Hispanic patients more often had Medicaid insurance, higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) scores, advanced-stage breast cancer, mastectomy, and additional imaging after breast center presentation (p < 0.05). After controlling for other variables, racial or ethnic minority groups had consistently longer intervals to treatment, with Black women experiencing the greatest disparity (incidence rate ratio 1.42). Time from initial comprehensive breast center visit to treatment was also significantly shorter in White patients versus non-White patients (p < 0.0001). Black race, Medicaid insurance/being uninsured, older age, earlier stage, higher ASA score, undergoing mastectomy, having reconstruction, and requiring additional pretreatment work-up were associated with a longer time from initial visit at the comprehensive breast center to treatment on multivariable analysis (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Racial or ethnic minority groups have significant delays in treatment even when receiving care at a comprehensive breast center. Influential factors include insurance delays and necessity of additional pretreatment work-up. Specific policies are needed to address system barriers in treatment access.

Breast Cancer, Version 3.2022, NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology

The therapeutic options for patients with noninvasive or invasive breast cancer are complex and varied. These NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines for Breast Cancer include recommendations for clinical management of patients with carcinoma in situ, invasive breast cancer, Paget disease, phyllodes tumor, inflammatory breast cancer, and management of breast cancer during pregnancy. The content featured in this issue focuses on the recommendations for overall management of ductal carcinoma in situ and the workup and locoregional management of early stage invasive breast cancer. For the full version of the NCCN Guidelines for Breast Cancer, visit NCCN.org.

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.

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.

Kinetic Heterogeneity of Breast Cancer Determined Using Computer-aided Diagnosis of Preoperative MRI Scans: Relationship to Distant Metastasis-Free Survival

Background Higher peak enhancement and washout component values measured on preoperative breast MRI scans with computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) are presumed to be associated with worse recurrence-free survival. Purpose To investigate whether CAD-extracted kinetic features of breast cancer and the heterogeneity of these features at preoperative MRI are associated with distant metastasis-free survival in women with invasive breast cancer. Materials and Methods Consecutive women with newly diagnosed invasive breast cancer who underwent preoperative MRI were retrospectively evaluated between 2011 and 2012. A commercially available CAD system was used to extract the peak enhancement and delayed enhancement profiles of each breast cancer case from preoperative MRI data. The kinetic heterogeneity of these features (a measure of heterogeneity in the proportions of tumor pixels with delayed washout, plateau, and persistent components within a tumor) was calculated to evaluate intratumoral heterogeneity. Cox proportional hazards models were used to investigate the associations between CAD-extracted kinetic features and distant metastasis-free survival after adjusting for clinical-pathologic factors. Results A total of 276 consecutive women (mean age, 53 years) were evaluated. In 28 of 276 (10.1%) women, distant metastasis developed at a median follow-up of 79 months. A higher degree of kinetic heterogeneity was observed in women with distant metastases than in those without distant metastases (mean, 0.70 ± 0.2 vs 0.43 ± 0.3; P < .001). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis revealed that a higher degree of kinetic heterogeneity (hazard ratio [HR], 19.2; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.2, 87.1; P < .001), higher peak enhancement (HR, 1.001; 95% CI: 1.000, 1.002; P = .045), the presence of lymphovascular invasion (HR, 3.3; 95% CI: 1.5, 7.5; P = .004), and a higher histologic grade (ie, grade 3) (HR, 2.2; 95% CI: 1.0, 4.9; P = .044) were associated with worse distant metastasis-free survival. Conclusion Higher values of kinetic heterogeneity and peak enhancement as determined with computer-aided diagnosis of preoperative MRI were associated with worse distant metastasis-free survival in women with invasive breast cancer. © RSNA, 2020 See also the editorial by El Khouli and Jacobs in this issue.

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.

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.

Relationship between preoperative breast MRI and surgical treatment of non-metastatic breast cancer

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

More extensive surgical treatments for early stage breast cancer are increasing. The patterns of preoperative MRI overall and by stage for this trend has not been well established.

METHODS

Using Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium registry data from 2010 through 2014, we identified women with an incident non-metastatic breast cancer and determined use of preoperative MRI and initial surgical treatment (mastectomy, with or without contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM), reconstruction, and breast conserving surgery ± radiation). Clinical and sociodemographic covariates were included in multivariable logistic regression models to estimate adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

Of the 13 097 women, 2217 (16.9%) had a preoperative MRI. Among the women with MRI, results indicated 32% higher odds of unilateral mastectomy compared to breast conserving surgery and of mastectomy with CPM compared to unilateral mastectomy. Women with preoperative MRI also had 56% higher odds of reconstruction.

CONCLUSION

Preoperative MRI in women with DCIS and early stage invasive breast cancer is associated with more frequent mastectomy, CPM, and reconstruction surgical treatment. Use of more extensive surgical treatment and reconstruction among women with DCIS and early stage invasive cancer whom undergo MRI warrants further investigation.

Impact of MRI on high grade Ductal Carcinoma Insitu (HG DCIS) management, are we using the full scope of MRI?

INTRODUCTION

Preoperative assessment of pure Ductal Carcinoma Insitu (DCIS) is essential in the surgical planning. The role of Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has long been debated. The impact of MRI on the management of High Grade (HG) DCIS was assessed, whether it accurately captures the true size of this entity in comparison to conventional imaging, and, if MRI use would reduce the number of re-excision surgery.

METHOD

Ninety-one consecutive patients with HG DCIS, who were identified from a prospectively collected data at Kettering General Hospital between April 2011 and December 2015. All patients had preoperative MRI scan in addition to the standard breast imaging. This was compared to a control group of consecutive patients (n=52) which was obtained from a period just before 2011. Impact on surgical planning and number of surgeries for each patient was compared. The size of HG DCIS estimated by MRI was compared to the final histological size. Secondary outcomes included change of initial surgical plan and detection of occult contralateral breast cancer.

RESULTS

MRI group had 91 patients with median age of 63. Seventy percent of which presented through the screening program. The overall sensitivity of MRI to detect HG DCIS was 77% (70/91) with a false negative rate FNR of 23% (21/91). Therefore, 70 patients only were included in the data analysis. The control group included 52 screening patients with comparable baseline characteristics. Re-excision (or completion mastectomy) rates were higher in the control group 26% compared to 8% in the MRI group (P-value 0.012). MRI use correctly converted the initial plan of breast conservation to mastectomy in 9 patients (13%). Five patients had additional ipsilateral malignant features (7%).Occult contra lateral disease, was diagnosed in 2 patients (3%).

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that MRI could be an important tool in reducing the re-excision rates in the surgical management of HG DCIS. Although still controversial, selective MRI imaging can be useful in the preoperative diagnosis and evaluation of HG DCIS. Case by case discussion at MDT is crucial. Wider adaptation of MRI when indicated in the assessment of breast lesions with proper correlation to histology postoperatively is a key in improving our MRI interpretation skills, helping us to exploit the full scope of this useful tool.

Enhancing patterns of breast cancer on preoperative dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging and resection margin in breast conserving therapy

BACKGROUND

The association between enhancing patterns of preoperative dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) and resection margins after BCS has not been studied in detail before.

OBJECTIVE

We investigated the association between surgical outcomes and enhancing patterns observed on DCE-MRI.

METHODS

269 enhancing patterns on DCE-MRI scans were selected, and subdivided into the following groups: (1) a single mass-like enhancement, (2) a single non-mass-like enhancement (NME), (3) mass-like enhancing breast cancer with other mass-like enhancing lesions, and (4) mass-like enhancing breast cancer with additional NMEs. Associations between enhancing patterns on DCE-MRI and re-excision rate, size of specimen, and ratio of tumor/specimen were evaluated retrospectively.

RESULTS

The conversion rate from breast conserving therapy (BCT) to mastectomy as a result of MRI findings was 13.4%, re-excision rate during BCT was 8.2% and excision rate of another suspicious lesion was 7.4%. The single NME group had the highest re-excision rate after BCT (22.2%) (p = 0.02). The ratio of tumor/specimen (p = 0.61) and mean specimen size (p = 0.38) were not influenced by enhancement patterns. The false positive rate and positive predictive values of using DCE-MRI for defining the extension of breast cancer was 22.2% and 71.4%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Enhancement patterns on DCE- MRI, especially NME, could increase re-excision rates.

Role of magnetic resonance imaging in the planning of breast cancer treatment strategies: comparison with conventional imaging techniques

OBJECTIVE

To assess the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the planning of breast cancer treatment strategies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study included 160 women diagnosed with breast cancer, who underwent breast MRI for preoperative staging. Using Pearson's correlation coefficient (r), we compared the size of the primary tumor, as determined by MRI, by conventional imaging (mammography and ultrasound), and in the pathological examination (gold standard). The identification of lesions not identified in previous examinations was also evaluated, as was its influence on treatment planning.

RESULTS

The mean age of the patients was 52.2 years (range, 30-81 years), and the most common histological type was invasive ductal carcinoma (in 60.6% of the patients). In terms of the tumor size determined, MRI correlated better with the pathological examination than did mammography (r = 0.872 vs. 0.710) or ultrasound (r = 0.836 vs. 0.704). MRI identified additional lesions in 53 patients (33.1%), including malignant lesions in 20 (12.5%), which led to change in the therapeutic planning in 23 patients (14.4%).

CONCLUSION

Breast MRI proved to be more accurate than conventional imaging in determining the dimensions of the main tumor and was able to identify lesions not identified by other methods evaluated, which altered the therapeutic planning in a significant proportion of cases.

The true impact of breast magnetic resonance imaging on the management of in situ disease: more is not better

BACKGROUND

The optimal role of breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the management of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) remains controversial. We sought to better define the impact of breast MRIs when utilized during the workup of DCIS.

METHODS

Patients with biopsy-proven DCIS without any additional invasive disease were prospectively enrolled in the multidisciplinary breast cancer pathway and comprised the study group. Patients who met any additional criteria for MRI screening were excluded.

RESULTS

From 2008 to 2014, 93 women met the inclusion criteria. 81 patients underwent MRI as part of their workup. One patient benefited from MRI via identification of occult malignancy not previously identified. 35 MRIs identified no additional information whereas 46 had additional findings. These findings led to 23 procedures and 16 negative biopsies; recommendations for 16 radiographic studies that were normal; and influenced nodal sampling in 7 women with 1 positive metastatic focus.

CONCLUSIONS

The routine use of breast MRI for women diagnosed with DCIS has limited benefit. Often, it leads to multiple procedures and studies that are clinically insignificant and delays surgical treatment.

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.

DCIS of the breast: The value of preoperative MRI

INTRODUCTION

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast is commonly treated surgically. The intent of this study was to evaluate whether preoperative MRI could add to mammography in predicting the extent of the disease.

METHODS

A series of patients with DCIS attending our surgical clinic for preoperative assessment were offered MRI as part of a prospective study. The extent of the disease indicated by mammography and MRI was compared with histopathology after definitive treatment. The null hypothesis was that MRI does not add to mammography in accurately predicting disease extent.

RESULTS

Fifty patients make up the basis of this report. Mammography was concordant with the pathology in 31/50. MRI and mammography combined were concordant in 43/50. This is a statistically significant difference (P = 0.01, Fisher's exact test). Upstaging to mastectomy by MRI was correct in 7/8 patients, but downstaging was correct in only 2/4.

CONCLUSIONS

The null hypothesis is rejected. MRI does add to mammography in accurately predicting the extent of DCIS. Upstaging by MRI is usually reliable.

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.

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.

DCIS and LCIS are confusing and outdated terms. They should be abandoned in favor of ductal intraepithelial neoplasia (DIN) and lobular intraepithelial neoplasia (LIN)

The terms ductal and lobular intraepithelial neoplasia (DIN and LIN) were introduced by Tavossoli 15 years ago, who proposed they should replace, respectively, ductal and lobular carcinoma in situ (DCIS and LCIS). This proposal has been slowly gaining ground. We argue that DCIS and LCIS should now be definitively abandoned. Bringing together 'in situ' and other entities into the simpler and more logical DIN/LIN framework--as has been done with intraepithelial neoplasias of cervix, vagina, vulva, prostate, and pancreas--would eliminate the artificial and illogical distinctions between 'not cancers' (e.g. flat epithelial atypia, atypical ductal hyperplasia--now classified as low grade DIN) and 'cancers' (e.g. DCIS--now considered medium-high grade DIN). Elimination of the term 'carcinoma' from entities that cannot metastasize will reduce confusion among health professionals and patients, and contribute to reducing the risk of overtreatment, as well as reducing adverse psychological reactions in patients.