Laura Martincich MD, Presenter: Speaker, Bracco Group Consultant, Bayer AG Speaker, ABC Medical Imaging

Silvia Carabalona MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Eleonora Rachetta MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Rita Giada Spinelli MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Filippo Montemurro MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Daniele Regge MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

1) To review and show how to assess tumor response to neadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT). 2) To review and illustrate imaging and clinical reasons for pitfalls and limitations in monitoring the response to NCT. 3) To illustrate a diagnostic work-up in the evaluation of Breast MRI when assessing the response to NCT.

• Review of unidimensional, bidimensional and volumetric criteria in the definition of tumor response to NCT; illustrative clinical cases of complete and partial response, stable disease and progressive disease with pathological correlation. • Review of pitfalls and limitations of Breast MRI in evaluating the tumor response to NCT; illustrative clinical cases of different types of tumor shrinkage and over and underestimation of the response with pathological correlation. • Definition of a work-up for both the evaluation of Breast MR examinations when assessing tumor response to NCT and the clinical management of the results of Breast MRI after NCT.

The exhibit will familiarize radiologists with both the assessment of tumor response to NCT by Breast MRI and the common pitfalls and limitations of the examination. An additional teaching point will be to provide a work-up for the evaluation of Breast MR exams when monitoring NCT.

Martincich, L, Carabalona, S, Rachetta, E, Spinelli, R, Montemurro, F, Regge, D, Tumor Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy by Dynamic Contrast-enhanced Breast MRI: A Pictorial Review of How to Assess Response and Recognize Pitfalls and Limitations.  Radiological Society of North America 2013 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, December 1 - December 6, 2013 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2013/13018417.html