Yoo Jin Lee, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Eun Young Ko MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Eun Sook Ko MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Boo-Kyung Han MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Jung Hee Shin MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To evaluate the benefit of preoperative MRI for the patients with breast cancer in terms of local recurrence rates after the surgical treatment of the primary carcinoma.

We retrospectively reviewed clinical records of 710 breast cancer patients who had breast conserving surgery from January 2005 to December 2006. Preoperative MRI for staging and surgical planning was performed in 272 patients and not performed in 438 patients according to the surgeon’s preference. In all cases, the initial pathologic results were negative surgical margin, and all patients underwent appropriate systemic treatment after surgery including adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy. All recurred tumors were confirmed by surgical excision. We compared the rate of breast cancer recurrence during the follow up period for more than 4 years in two groups, with and without preoperative breast MRI.

There were 28 patients with histologically proven local breast cancer recurrence detected for 4 years after initial surgical treatment of the primary carcinoma. Among the 28 cases of local recurrence, 13 cases (46.4%) were detected in the ipsilateral breast and 15 cases (53.5% ) were revealed in the contralateral breast . The patient group who underwent breast MRI before primary therapy for local MR staging revealed the local recurrence rate of 2.2% (6 of 272 patients). Another group who did not underwent preoperative breast MRI yield the local recurrence rate of 5.0% (22 of 438 patients). The total recurrence rate including metachronous contralateral carcinoma or local recurrence in the ipsilateral breast were significantly (p<0.05) more frequent in patients without preoperative local MR staging compared to those with breast carcinoma who underwent MRI before primary therapy.

Preoperative local MR staging allows a significant reduction of ipsilateral recurrences and contralateral cancer at follow-up. Breast MRI can be recommended in patients with hitologically proven breast cancer.

Preoperative MRI of the breasts is a reliable technique for the staging of breast carcinoma and it allows reduction of local recurrence rates.

Lee, Y, Ko, E, Ko, E, Han, B, Shin, J, Preoperative MRI of the Breast Cancer in Breast-conserving Surgery: Benefit or Not?.  Radiological Society of North America 2011 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 26 - December 2, 2011 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2011/11016309.html