Several MR imaging features might be used for detecting triple-negative breast cancer.

No abstract

Skull metastases are malignant bone tumors which are increasing in incidence. The objectives of this study were to characterize the MR imaging features, locations, and extent of metastatic skull tumors to determine the frequency of the symptomatic disease, and to assess patient outcomes. Between September 2002 and March 2008, 175 patients undergoing routine head MR imaging were found to have metastatic skull tumors. Contrast-enhanced study with fat suppression was used in some cases when required. Classification of metastases was simplified to three yes/no questions: first, with regard to location (either in the calvarium or in the cranial base); second, with regard to distribution within the plane of the cranial bone (either “circumscribed” meaning clearly demarcated and confined to one bone, or “diffuse” and likely to spread across a suture to another bone); and third, with regard to invasion (“intraosseous” in cranial bones only, or “invasive” spreading from the skull, either out into the scalp or inward to the dura and perhaps further in). Primary sites were breast cancer (55%), lung cancer (14%), prostate cancer (6%), malignant lymphoma (5%), and others (20%). The mean time from primary diagnosis to skull metastasis diagnosis was 71 months for cases of breast cancer, 26 months for prostate cancer, 9 months for lung cancer, and 4 months for malignant lymphoma. Calvarial circumscribed intraosseous metastases were found most frequently (27%). The patients were mainly asymptomatic. However, some patients suffered from local pain or cranial nerve palsies that harmed their quality of life. Treatment, mainly for symptomatic cases, was by local or whole-skull irradiation. Metastatic skull tumors are not rare, and most are calvarial circumscribed intraosseous tumors. MR images contribute to understanding their type, location, and multiplicity, and their relationship to the brain, cranial nerves, and dural sinuses. Radiation therapy improved the QOL of patients with neurological symptoms.

Purpose:To investigate the effect of gadolinium (Gd)-DTPA on the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of breast carcinoma and to analyze the relationship between pre/postcontrast ADC and the degree of contrast enhancement. Materials and Methods:Nineteen histopathologically confirmed breast carcinomas (mean size ϭ 22 mm) were analyzed. Their ADCs before and after contrast administration were measured. The contrast-to-noise ratios (CNRs) of the tumors were measured on fat-suppressed 3D T1-weighted images in precontrast, early, and late postcontrast phases. These results were correlated with the measured ADC values.Results: A significant decrease in the measured ADC was noted after contrast administration (Ϫ23%, P ϭ 0.01). Lesions with relatively high ADC before contrast (Ͼ1.3 ϫ 10 Ϫ3 mm 2 /sec; n ϭ 12) demonstrated a larger degree of ADC reduction (mean 34%) than lesions with low ADC (Յ1.3 ϫ 10 Ϫ3 mm 2 /sec; n ϭ 7) (mean 4.5%). When an early postcontrast image was used as a surrogate marker of malignant potential, we found a significant inverse correlation with postcontrast ADC (␥ ϭ Ϫ0.57, P ϭ 0.02). Conclusion:Postcontrast ADC exhibited lower values than precontrast ADC, which is thought to reflect suppression of the microperfusion-induced effect on diffusion-weighted imaging. Postcontrast ADC may be a better indicator than precontrast ADC to reflect malignant potential of tumors.

MR imaging was the most accurate breast imaging modality for the tumor exten of breast cancer, although MR imaging had a substantial of risk of overestimation. MR imaging, MDCT and US can complement MMG for the preoperative evaluation of patients who are candidates for breast-conserving surgery.