Takeaways from Pre-Contrast T1 and T2 Breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Women with Recently Diagnosed Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND: Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE - MRI) has been widely used in the management of breast cancer, and its diagnostic value in breast imaging has been demonstrated. There have only been a few reports regarding the usefulness of pre-contrast imaging. Knowledge about clinically significant findings of preoperative, pre-contrast T1 and T2 MR images will allow more accurate decisions regarding patient treatment and management. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinically significant findings of preoperative, pre-contrast T1 and T2 MR images in recently diagnosed breast cancer patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analyzed 390 preoperative 3-T MRIs of recently diagnosed breast cancer patients in whom the diagnosis was confirmed by a core needle biopsy. RESULTS: MRI findings that were correlated with post-core needle-biopsy changes were observed in 27.9% of the pre-contrast T1 and T2 MRIs (n = 109/390). Two of 35 cases that had a subareolar ductal high signal area on the pre-contrast T1 were confirmed by surgery as having nipple-areolar complex involvement. CONCLUSION: A subareolar ductal high signal area on a pre-contrast T1 MRI must be carefully assessed in combination with dynamic, contrast-enhanced images for proper surgical management.