Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging use and oncologic outcomes in premenopausal breast cancer patients

Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) delineates disease extent sensitively in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, but improved cancer outcomes are uncertain. Young women, for whom mammography is less sensitive, are expected to benefit from MRI-based resection. We identified 512 women aged ≤50 years, undergoing breast-conserving treatment (BCT: tumor-free resection margins and radiotherapy) during 2006–2013 through Northwestern Medicine database queries; 64.5% received preoperative MRI and 35.5% did not. Tumor and treatment parameters were similar between groups. We estimated the adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) for local and distant recurrences (LR and DR), using multivariable regression models, accounting for important therapeutic and prognostic parameters. LR rate with MRI use was 7.9 vs. 8.2% without MRI, aHR = 1.03 (95% CI 0.53–1.99). DR rate was 6.4 vs. 6.6%, aHR = 0.89 (95% CI 0.43–1.84). In 119 women aged ≤40, results were similar to LR aHR = 1.82 (95% CI 0.43–7.76) and DR aHR = 0.93 (95% CI 0.26–3.34). Sensitivity analyses showed similar results. The use of preoperative MRI in women aged ≤50 years should be reconsidered until there is proof of benefit.