Effect of 0.5 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging on the surgical management of breast cancer patients

Furman, Ben; Gardner, Mary S; Romilly, Patricia; Clark, John; Stowell, Nicholas; Green, Bradley; Ebert, Mark; Patel, Amit; Cox, Charles

doi:10.1016/S0002-9610(03)00275-7

« Previous Next »The American Journal of Surgery
Volume 186, Issue 4 , Pages 344-347, October 2003

Effect of 0.5 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging on the surgical management of breast cancer patients

Presented at the Fourth Annual Meeting of the American Society of Breast Surgeons, Atlanta, Georgia, April 30–May 4, 2003

Ben Furman, M.D.
- Department of Surgery, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, University of South Florida, 12902 Magnolia Dr., Tampa, FL 33612, USA
Mary S Gardner, M.D.
- Department of Radiology, Lakeland Regional Cancer Center, Lakeland, FL, USA
Patricia Romilly, M.D.
- Department of Radiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
John Clark
- Department of Surgery, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, University of South Florida, 12902 Magnolia Dr., Tampa, FL 33612, USA
Nicholas Stowell
- Department of Surgery, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, University of South Florida, 12902 Magnolia Dr., Tampa, FL 33612, USA
Bradley Green
- Department of Surgery, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, University of South Florida, 12902 Magnolia Dr., Tampa, FL 33612, USA
Mark Ebert
- Department of Surgery, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, University of South Florida, 12902 Magnolia Dr., Tampa, FL 33612, USA
Amit Patel
- Department of Surgery, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, University of South Florida, 12902 Magnolia Dr., Tampa, FL 33612, USA
Charles Cox, M.D.
- Department of Surgery, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, University of South Florida, 12902 Magnolia Dr., Tampa, FL 33612, USA
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +1-813-972-8480; fax: +1-813-979-7287.

Received 3 June 2003; received in revised form 21 June 2003

Abstract

Background

This trial examines the utility of breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for detection of occult breast disease and its effect on surgical treatment.

Methods

Between October 2000 and March 2002, 76 of 1,289 patients underwent bilateral breast MRI within 4 months of a mammogram. The MRI scan, mammogram, pathology reports, and physicians' notes were reviewed to determine impact of MRI on surgical treatment.

Results

Magnetic resonance imaging detected 23 additional lesions in 19 patients not detected by mammogram. Cancer occult to mammography was detected by MRI in 6 women, constituting 7.9%. Magnetic resonance imaging impacted surgical treatment plans in 10 of 76 (13.2%) patients.

Conclusions

Magnetic resonance imaging is effective at identifying new subclinical breast disease not seen on mammography. Ten of 76 patients (13.2%) who underwent MRI had their surgical management altered due to MRI findings. Specific criteria should be studied to know which subgroups would benefit most from breast MRI.

Keywords: Magnetic resonance imaging, Breast cancer, Occult disease, Multifocal disease