Tibor Vag MD, PhD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Stephan Metz MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Marika Kuschan, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Stephan G. Nekolla PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Breast tumors with high tumor grade, low expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors (ER; PR) and HER2/neu overexpression are associated with poorer prognosis. The purpose of this study was to correlate these prognostic factors with semiquantitative parameters extracted from hybrid PET/MR imaging.

A total of 18 patients with histopathologically proven breast carcinoma underwent hybrid PET/MR Imaging using a dedicated PET/MR breast coil. Imaging protocol included Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI) and PET data acquisition  early (20min) and late (120min) post injection of [18F]-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). Obtained mean and  maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmean; SUVmax) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) were correlated to progesterone receptor (PR), estrogene receptor (ER), HER2/neu status and tumor grade. Non-parametric rank tests were performed for testing significance level. SUVmean and ADC were directly compared using linear regression analysis.

SUVmean and SUVmax measured 20min and 120min after injection of [18F]-FDG correlated significantly with tumor grade and HER2/neu status (P<0.001). A significant correlation between SUVmean, SUVmax and ER/PR status was not observed. In DWI, ADC highly correlated only with tumor grade (P<0.001). ADC values and SUVmean showed a moderate inverse correlation (r=0.56).

Breast tumors with high SUVmean and SUVmax might be suggestive for a HER2/neu overexpression. Additional low ADC values might indicate a high tumor grade.The only moderate correlation between ADC-values and SUVmean suggests that both imaging parameters might provide complementary information on tumor biology.  

Correlation of certain prognostic factors in invasive breast carcinoma with semiquantitative parameters SUVmean, SUVmax and ADC using hybrid PET/MR Imaging is feasable.

Vag, T, Metz, S, Kuschan, M, Nekolla, S, Hybrid PET/MR Imaging of Invasive Breast Carcinomas: Correlation of Prognostic Factors with Semiquantitative Imaging Parameters.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14007548.html