11 Dec Breast Cancer: Preoperative Axillary MRI Assessment

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Tina J Hieken, MD
Department of Surgery Associate Professor of Surgery
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
Rochester, MN 55905

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?

Dr. Hieken: Many newly diagnosed breast cancer patients undergo breast MRI; Breast MRI includes a component of axillary imaging. However, there is limited data on MRI staging of axilla.

MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?

Dr. Hieken: Axillary lymph node findings on breast MRI predict both nodal status and nodal and nodal disease volume.

Performance characteristics of breast MRI with axillary imaging were better for patients with higher grade tumors, but unaffected by tumor approximated biologic subtype and patient BMI.

MedicalResearch.com: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Dr. Heiken: When MRI is performed in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, axillary imaging performed with standard breast MRI may provide additional information regarding the likelihood and extent of axillary disease at operation.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Dr. Hieken: Prospective validation of these findings.

Investigation of whether MRI adds to axillary ultrasound for preoperative axillary staging in those patients for whom MRI is performed.

We do not recommend that all newly diagnosed breast cancer patients undergo MRI, but suggest that when MRI is done axillary findings may add value.

Citation:

San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2014:

Value of breast MRI for preoperative axillary assessment of breast cancer patients
Dupont SC, Boughey JC, Hoskin TL, Glazebrook KN, Hieken TJ. Mayo Clinic,
Rochester, MN.

Last Updated on December 11, 2014 by Marie Benz MD FAAD