Radiologic-Pathologic Correlation of Nonmass Enhancement Contiguous with Malignant Index Breast Cancer Masses at Preoperative Breast MRI

Derek L. Nguyen, Mira Lotfalla, Ashley Cimino-Mathews, Mehran Habibi, Emily B. Ambinder

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the pathologic features of nonmass enhancement (NME) directly adjacent to biopsy-proven malignant masses (index masses) at preoperative MRI and determine imaging characteristics that are associated with a malignant pathologic condition. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study involved the review of breast MRI and mammography examinations performed for evaluating disease extent in patients newly diagnosed with breast cancer from July 1, 2016, to September 30, 2019. Inclusion criteria were limited to patients with an index mass and the presence of NME extending directly from the mass margins. Wilcoxon rank sum test, Fisher exact test, and χ2 test were used to analyze cancer, patient, and imaging characteristics associated with the NME diagnosis. Results: Fifty-eight patients (mean age, 58 years ± 12 [SD]; all women) were included. Malignant pathologic findings for mass-asso-ciated NME occurred in 64% (37 of 58) of patients, 43% (16 of 37) with ductal carcinoma in situ and 57% (21 of 37) with invasive carcinoma. NME was more likely to be malignant when associated with an index cancer that had a low Ki-67 index (<20%) (P = .04). The presence of calcifications at mammography correlating with mass-associated NME was not significantly associated with malignant pathologic conditions (P = .19). The span of suspicious enhancement measured at MRI overestimated the true span of disease at histologic evaluation (P < .001), while there was no evidence of a difference between span of calcifications at mammography and true span of disease at histologic evaluation (P = .27). Conclusion: Mass-associated NME at preoperative MRI was malignant in most patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer. The span of suspicious enhancement measured at MRI overestimated the true span of disease found at histologic evaluation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere230060
JournalRadiology: Imaging Cancer
Volume6
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2024

Keywords

  • Breast
  • Mammography

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
  • Oncology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Radiologic-Pathologic Correlation of Nonmass Enhancement Contiguous with Malignant Index Breast Cancer Masses at Preoperative Breast MRI'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this