Detection of recurrent breast carcinoma using unenhanced breast MRI

Abstract

Background

Early detection of locally recurrent breast carcinoma has been shown to significantly improve long-term survival. Surgery and radiation therapy made treated breast prone to several modifications. This can complicate the interpretation of ultrasound and mammographic images, especially when local recurrence is suspected. The aim of this work is to assess the role of unenhanced MRI (T1WI, T2WI, STIR, and DWI) in differentiating recurrent breast cancer from benign post-operative lesions.

Results

The presence of fat SI within the lesions had 100% sensitivity, 90.9% specificity, 94.1% PPV, 100% NPV, and 96.2% accuracy in differentiating fat necrosis from recurrent breast carcinoma. A cutoff ADC value of 1 × 10–3 mm²/s for observer one had 80% sensitivity, 90.9% specificity, and 88.9% accuracy in diagnosis of recurrent breast carcinoma. For observer two, a cutoff ADC value of 1.25 × 10–3 mm2/s had sensitivity of 80%, specificity of 88.6%, and diagnostic accuracy of 87.03% in differentiating recurrent breast carcinoma from benign post-operative changes. Unenhanced MRI had 81.8% sensitivity, 97.7% specificity, 90% PPV, 95.5% NPV, and 94.5% accuracy in the diagnosis of recurrent breast carcinoma.

Conclusion

Unenhanced MRI including T1WI, T2WI, STIR, DWI, and ADC map had high sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy in diagnosis of recurrent breast carcinoma and differentiating it from benign post-operative changes.

Background

After breast conservative therapy, the incidence of ipsilateral recurrent breast carcinoma is about 1% per year for invasive breast cancer and is slightly less for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Women who are at the greatest risk for recurrence are those who are younger than 35 years, patients with high-grade DCIS, patients with DCIS measuring > 2.5 cm in diameter, patients with invasive ductal carcinoma with a large DCIS component, and patients with multifocal breast carcinoma [1]. Early detection of locally recurrent breast carcinoma has been shown to significantly improve long-term survival [2].

Surgery and radiation therapy made treated breast prone to several modifications. This can complicate the interpretation of ultrasound and mammographic images, especially when local recurrence is suspected [3].

Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) has been shown to be a valuable tool in detection and characterization of primary and recurrent breast carcinoma [4]. The sensitivity of breast MRI for detection of recurrent breast carcinoma in the post-breast conservative surgery is more than 90% [2]. DCE-MRI has been shown to be useful in differentiating post-operative scar from recurrent breast carcinoma, whereas non-enhancing lesions usually represent post-operative scar rather than recurrent breast carcinoma [5].

The ability of DCE-MRI to differentiate between recurrent breast carcinoma and benign post treatment changes depends on its ability to assess both lesion morphology and enhancement kinetics [6].

However, contrast-enhanced breast MRI has many side effects as the high economic cost of the used contrast media. Also, it is contraindicated in patients with impaired renal function [7].

Traditional unenhanced sequences, primarily T2-weighted fast spin-echo and STIR, received new attention in terms of diagnostic signs. In addition, the use of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) was proposed for breast MRI, mainly for lesion characterization using the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) as a quantitative approach to differentiate benign from malignant lesions [7]. High cellularity in breast cancers causes barriers to the extracellular water diffusion, and this result in signal loss and low ADC values [8]. On the basis of these criteria, DWI can offer an unenhanced tool to detect breast carcinoma without the costs and safety concerns associated with DCE-MRI [9].

Also, T1-weighted sequence is highly important in diagnosis of post-operative fat necrosis which is a common complication following breast surgery and radiation therapy. The presence of fat signal in a lesion revealed sensitivity of 98.04%, specificity of 100%, PPV of 100%, and NPP of 96.88% for diagnosis of fat necrosis [10].

Aim of the study

The purpose of this study was to assess the role of unenhanced MRI including T1WI, T2WI, STIR image, and DWI in differentiation between recurrent breast cancer and benign post-operative lesions (e.g., fat necrosis) taking the results of histopathology as our standard of reference.

Methods

Patient’s demographic data

This prospective study was performed on 110 female patients with history of breast cancer and underwent operation either conservative breast surgery (86 patients) (78.2%) or modified radical mastectomy (MRM) (24 patients) (21.8%). Their age ranged from 34 to 60 years with a mean ± SD = 47.23 ± 7.10. It was performed during the period from January 2018 till December 2019 and was approved by our institution’s ethics committee. All patients gave their informed consent before inclusion in the study.

Inclusion criteria

Female patients with history of breast cancer and underwent surgery for treatment of breast cancer and referred for MRI with suspicion to have local regional recurrence on the basis of clinical examinations (e.g., palpable mass or an irregular area of firmness at the operative bed, skin changes, skin inflammation or area of redness, one or more painless nodules on or under the skin of the chest wall in cases of MRM, or thickening along or near the mastectomy scar) or on the basis of sonomammographic examination (e.g., areas of parenchymal distortion, irregular shaped masses with skin retraction, and hypoechoic masses with posterior shadowing).

Exclusion criteria

Patients who have contraindications to do MRI as patients with cardiac pace maker, patients with cochlear implant and ocular foreign body, patients on neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and patients who performed unplanned excision of breast cancer.

MRI technique

MRI was performed on 1.5 T MR imaging unit (Philips Ingenia). All patients were examined in the prone position using dedicated breast coil. All patients underwent the following: FSE axial non-fat saturated TIWI (TR 450 ms and TE 14 ms), axial non-fat-suppressed T2-weighted turbo spin-echo (TR 4500 ms and TE 97 ms), and axial STIR images (TR 7000–9000 ms, TE 70 ms, and inversion time (TI) was 150 ms).

DWI was obtained before contrast medium injection using a multislice, single-shot, spin-echo, echo-planar image sequence. A set of multiple axial scans of the breast was obtained. The scanning parameters were TR/TE = 10.000:108 ms, NEX = 8–16, bandwidth = 300 kHz, FOV = 300–360 mm, slice thickness was 4 mm, and acquisition matrix = 256 × 128. The diffusion gradients were applied in three orthogonal directions (x, y, and z). Diffusion-weighted MR images were acquired with b factor of 0 or 500 and 1000 s/mm², and ADC maps were reconstructed.

DCE-MRI was performed after injection of a bolus of gadopentetate dimeglumine, in a dose of 0.2 m-mol/kg using an automated injector at a rate of 3–5 ml/s. This was followed by a bolus injection of saline (a total of 20 ml at 3–5 ml/s). Dynamic images were obtained in the axial plane with fat suppression. The sequence used was FLASH 3-D GRE-T1WI with the following parameters: TR 4–8 ms, TE 2 ms, flip angle 20–25, slice thickness 2 mm with no inter-slice gap, FOV 300–360 mm, and the matrix was 307 × 512. Dynamic study consists of one pre-contrast and 5 postcontrast series. Subtraction images were obtained by subtracting each of the pre-contrast images from each post-contrast series images.

Image interpretation

Two experienced radiologists blinded to each other and blinded to the results of histopathological examinations evaluated the MRI images for the following:

• 1) Signal intensity of the lesion on non-contrast images (T1WI, T2WI, and STIR).

• 2) As regard to diffusion images, there were two methods for evaluation: (A) qualitative analysis of DWI was performed by a combined visual assessment of the high b value DWI (b 1000) and the corresponding ADC maps. Recurrent breast carcinoma appeared high SI on the high b value DWI and of low SI on ADC maps. Benign post-operative breast lesions (post-operative scar, fat necrosis, and post-operative seroma) are characterized by low SI on high the b value DWI and high SI on ADC map. Sometimes, post-operative seroma appeared of high SI on both DWI and ADC map, and this is termed T2 shine through artifact (decreased on high b value image). (B) Quantitative analysis of DWI was performed by calculating the ADC values of tissues. An ROI is manually drawn along the margins of the lesion on ADC map images.

On the basis of non-contrast MR images and diffusion images, recurrent breast carcinoma was diagnosed when the lesion appeared of low signal intensity on T2WI, low signal intensity on T1WI, and show restricted diffusion with low ADC value (Fig. 1). Post-operative fat necrosis was diagnosed when the lesion showed fat signal intensity (high signal intensity on T1WI and low signal intensity on STIR images compared with the surrounding breast fat) and appeared free on diffusion with high ADC value (Fig. 2). Post-operative seroma was diagnosed when the lesion appeared of high signal intensity on T2WI and STIR images, low signal intensity on T1WI, and appeared free on diffusion with high ADC value (Fig. 3). Post-operative scar was diagnosed when the lesion appeared of intermediate signal intensity on T2WI, low signal intensity on T1WI, and free on diffusion with high ADC value (Fig. 4). We did not depend on the assessment of lesion shape and margins to differentiate between benign post-operative changes and recurrent breast carcinoma as post-operative scar, and fat necrosis usually has irregular shape and margins so could not be discriminated from recurrent breast carcinoma on the basis of lesion shape and margins.

Fig. 1

Female patient aged 50 years with history of left breast cancer underwent conservative breast surgery and then presented by palpable left breast mass. a Axial STIR image showed retroareolar lesion of intermediate signal intensity. b Axial T1WI, the lesion appeared of low signal intensity. c, d DWI and ADC map, the lesion appeared restricted with a mean ADC value = 0.9 × 10–3 mm²/s. e Subtraction MR image showed heterogeneously enhancing irregular shaped retroareolar mass. Pathological diagnosis revealed recurrent grade II invasive duct carcinoma

Fig. 2

Female patient aged 38 years with history of left breast cancer underwent conservative breast and then presented by palpable lump. a Axial T1WI showed lesion of high signal intensity in the left breast. b Axial STIR image, the lesion appeared of low signal intensity. c, d DWI and ADC map, the lesion appeared free on diffusion with a mean ADC value = 1.29 × 10–3 mm²/s. e Dynamic MR image showed marginally enhanced oval shaped lesion in the left breast. Pathological diagnosis revealed fat necrosis

Fig. 3

Female patient aged 51 years with history of left breast cancer underwent conservative breast surgery and then presented by palpable left breast mass. a Axial STIR image showed lesion of high signal intensity. b Axial T1WI, the lesion appeared of low signal intensity. c, d DWI and ADC map, the lesion appeared free on diffusion with a mean ADC value = 2.5 × 10–3 mm²/s. e Subtraction MR Image, the lesion, showed thin smooth marginal enhancement. FNAC show post-operative seroma with no malignant cells detected

Fig. 4

Female patient aged 36 years with history of right breast cancer underwent conservative breast surgery and then presented by palpable right breast mass. a Axial STIR image showed irregular shaped right breast lesion of intermediate to high signal intensity. b Axial T1WI, the lesion appeared of low signal intensity. c, d DWI and ADC map, the lesion appeared free on diffusion with a mean ADC value = 2 × 10–3 mm²/s. e Subtraction MR image, the lesion showed no significant enhancement. Pathological diagnosis revealed post-operative fibrosis and scar tissue

Final diagnosis

The results of histopathological examinations were considered as our standard of reference. The interval between the MRI examination and the histopathological examination was 10–15 days. When patients were suspected to have recurrent breast carcinoma, post-operative scar or fat necrosis on the basis of MRI, Tru-cut biopsy was done using 14–16 gauge core needle. When patients were suspected to have post-operative seroma on the basis of MRI, FNAC was performed to exclude presence of malignant cells.

Statistical analysis

Data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science software computer program version 23 (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Data were expressed as mean ± SD (standard deviation) for quantitative parametric data and as frequency (number-percent) for qualitative data. Kappa agreement was used for inter-rater agreement. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used as a measure of inter-rater agreement for continuous scales. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV (positive predictive value), NPV (negative predictive value), and accuracy were calculated to differentiate between benign post-operative lesions and recurrent breast carcinoma by unenhanced MRI. The sensitivity and specificity of ADC to differentiate between benign and malignant lesions were examined at different cutoff points using ROC curve analysis to determine the best cutoff point as well as the diagnostic power of each test. P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

The final pathological diagnosis of 110 patients was recurrent breast carcinoma (grade II invasive duct carcinoma) in 22 patients (20%), fat necrosis in 32 patients (29%), post-operative seroma in 46 patients (41.8%), post-operative scar in 8 patients (7.2%), and infected seroma in 2 patients (1.8%).

On this study, we depended on the analysis of signal intensity of lesions on non-contrast images and the measured ADC values to differentiate between benign post-operative changes and recurrent breast carcinoma.

Regarding the presence of fat signal intensity within the lesions, both observers found that fat SI was found in all cases of fat necrosis included in this study and in only two cases of recurrent breast carcinoma included in this study. The presence of fat SI within the lesions had 100% sensitivity, 90.9% specificity, 94.1% PPV, 100% NPV, and 96.2% accuracy in differentiating fat necrosis from recurrent breast carcinoma (Table 1).

Table 1 Showed sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy of presence of fat signal intensity in differentiating fat necrosis from recurrent breast carcinoma

On measuring ADC value for the 110 patients, observer one found that the mean ADC value for recurrent breast carcinoma was 0.79 × 10–3 mm²/s, mean ADC value for fat necrosis was 1.39 × 10–3 mm²/s, mean ADC value for post-operative seroma was 2.37 × 10–3 mm²/s, mean ADC value for post-operative scar was 1.73 × 10–3 mm²/s, and mean ADC value for infected seroma was 0.9 × 10–3 mm²/s. Observer two found that the mean ADC value for recurrent breast carcinoma was 0.76 × 10–3 mm²/s, mean ADC value for fat necrosis was 1.36 × 10–3 mm²/s, mean ADC value for post-operative seroma was 2.36 × 10–3 mm²/s, mean ADC value for post-operative scar was 1.73 × 10–3 mm²/s, and mean ADC value for infected seroma was 0.9 × 10–3 mm²/s (Table 2).

Table 2 Showed mean ADC value for different lesions included in the study by both observers

A cutoff ADC value of 1 × 10–3 mm²/s for observer one had 80% sensitivity, 90.9% specificity, 66.7% PPV, 95.2% NPV, and 88.9% accuracy in diagnosis of recurrent breast carcinoma. For observer two, a cutoff ADC value of 1.25 × 10–3 mm²/s had sensitivity of 80%, specificity of 88.6%, PPV of 61.5%, NPV of 95.2%, and diagnostic accuracy of 87.03% in differentiating recurrent breast carcinoma from benign post-operative changes (Table 3) (Fig. 5).There was excellent agreement between both observers about the measured cutoff ADC value (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.948, 95% confidence interval 0.912–0.969).

Table 3 Showed the cutoff ADC value between recurrent breast carcinoma and benign post-operative changes by both observers

Fig. 5

ROC curve for the cutoff ADC between recurrent breast carcinoma and benign post-operative changes by observer one and two. A cutoff ADC value of 1 × 10–3 mm²/s for observer one had 80% sensitivity, 90.9% specificity, 66.7% PPV, 95.2% NPV, and 88.9% accuracy in diagnosis of recurrent breast carcinoma. For observer two, a cutoff ADC value of 1.25 × 10–3 mm²/s had sensitivity of 80%, specificity of 88.6%, PPV of 61.5%, NPV of 95.2%, and diagnostic accuracy of 87.03% in differentiating recurrent breast carcinoma from benign post-operative changes

Final diagnosis of unenhanced MRI studies (T1WI, T2WI, STIR, and DWI) of 110 female patients by both observers was recurrent breast carcinoma in 20 patients (18.1%), fat necrosis in 34 patients (30.9%), post-operative seroma in 46 patients (41.8%), post-operative scar tissue in 8 patients (7.2%), and normal study in 2 patients (1.8%). There was excellent agreement between both observers about the final diagnosis of 110 patients by unenhanced MRI (Kappa = 1.00, P value = 0.001) (Table 4).

Table 4 Showed final unenhanced MRI diagnosis by both observers and interobserver agreement

On comparing the final diagnosis by unenhanced MRI with DCE-MRI and pathological diagnosis, we found that 2 cases of infected seromas were falsely diagnosed as recurrent breast carcinoma. However, they were truly diagnosed by dynamic MRI. Two cases were falsely reported as normal study on unenhanced MRI; however, linear non-mass enhancement was observed on the two cases on dynamic MRI, and they were proved to have recurrent invasive duct carcinoma. Two cases were falsely diagnosed by both unenhanced MRI and dynamic MRI as fat necrosis, and pathological diagnosis revealed recurrent grade II invasive duct carcinoma. Otherwise, the final diagnosis of the remaining cases was similar on unenhanced MRI, dynamic MRI, and pathological diagnosis (Table 5).

Table 5 Showed comparison between the final diagnosis by unenhanced MRI by both observers, final diagnosis by dynamic MRI by both observers, and the final pathological diagnosis

Both observers found that unenhanced breast MRI had 81.8% sensitivity, 97.7% specificity, 90% PPV, 95.5% NPV, and 94.5% diagnostic accuracy in differentiating recurrent breast carcinoma from benign post-operative changes. DCE-MRI had 90.9% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% PPV, 97.7% NPV, and 98.1% diagnostic accuracy in differentiating recurrent breast carcinoma from benign post-operative changes (Table 6).

Table 6 Showed sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and diagnostic accuracy of unenhanced MRI by both observers

Discussion

The main findings in this study were that unenhanced breast MRI (based on analysis of lesion SI and measured ADC value) had high sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy in detection of recurrent breast carcinoma and differentiating it from benign post-operative changes as fat necrosis and post-operative scar. However, there is still overlap in some cases as cases of infected seromas and some cases of recurrent breast carcinoma.

Fat necrosis is a common and challenging pitfall in interpreting MR images following breast conservative surgery. However, when it is adequately diagnosed, it can be categorized as BI-RADS 2 or BI-RADS 3 category. On MRI, the presence of fat SI within the lesion on unenhanced images is the most important diagnostic feature of fat necrosis [2]. Hassan et al. [10] studied the specific imaging features of fat necrosis and concluded that the presence of fat signal intensity within the lesion on unenhanced MR images had sensitivity of 98.04%, specificity of 100%, PPV of 100%, and NPP of 96.88%. Vasei et al. [3] stated that fat necrosis usually appeared isointense to the fat elsewhere in the breast, it appeared of high SI on T1WI and hypointense on STIR images when compared with the surrounding fat, and this is known as the black hole sign. This is concordant with our results where the presence of fat SI within the lesion had 100% sensitivity, 90.9% specificity, and 96.2% accuracy in differentiating fat necrosis from recurrent breast carcinoma.

On measuring ADC values for lesions included in this study, both observers found that the mean ADC value for recurrent breast carcinoma was 0.79 × 10–3 mm²/s for observer 1 and 0.76 × 10–3 mm²/s for observer 2, and this is nearly similar to Guatelli et al. [11]who found that the mean ADC value for malignant breast tumors was 0.97 × 10–3 mm²/s; also, our results agreed with a study performed by Yilmaz et al. [8], and they found that the mean ADC value for malignant breast tumors was 0.884 × 10–3 mm²/s. Also, we matched with the study performed by Altay and his colleagues [12]who found that mean ADC value for malignant breast tumors was 0.96 ± 0.25 × 10–3 mm²/s.

In this study, both observers found that the mean ADC value for recurrent breast carcinoma was lower than that of post-operative scar (0.79 × 10–3 mm²/s for recurrent carcinoma versus 1.73 × 10–3 mm²/s for post-operative scar) (p < 0.001), and this is in concordant with the study performed by Rinaldi et al. [13], and they stated that the average ADC value of recurrences was statistically lower than post-operative scar tissue (p < 0.001). Also, our results matched with Abdulghaffara et al. [14] who stated that the mean ADC value of recurrent breast carcinoma (mean = 0.95 × 10–3 mm²/s) was significantly lower than that of scar tissue (mean = 1.66 × 10–3 mm²/s).

Regarding the mean ADC value of fat necrosis, we found that it was significantly higher than that of recurrent breast carcinoma. This is in agreement with Abdulghaffara et al. [14] who stated that the mean ADC value of fat necrosis was higher than that of recurrent breast carcinoma (mean ADC value = 1.41 × 10–3 mm²/s for fat necrosis versus 0.95 × 10–3 mm²/s for recurrent breast carcinoma). Hassan et al. (10) stated that adding diffusion non-restriction to the presence of fat SI within the lesion could result in 100% sensitivity and specificity in diagnosis of fat necrosis.

In this study, we had two cases of infected seroma: they showed diffusion restriction with a mean ADC value of 0.9 × 10–3 mm²/s. Study performed by Durur-Subasi [15]stated that infected cysts and abscess usually appeared restricted on diffusion and results in false positive diffusion MRI.

Detection of non-mass enhancement on DWI alone is still difficult. According to the BI-RADS lexicon, non-mass enhancement is an enhancement of an area that is not a mass, typically occurring in an area of fibroglandular tissue that appears as normal on unenhanced images [7]. Avendano et al. [16] performed a study to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of DWI and ADC values in assessment of lesions presenting as non-mass enhancement on DCE-MRI and concluded that 31% of lesions presented as non-mass enhancement on dynamic MRI could not be adequately evaluated by DWI. On the basis of our unenhanced MR images, we missed 2 cases of recurrent breast carcinoma that presented as non-mass enhancement on dynamic MR images.

In this study, a cutoff ADC value of 1 × 10–3 mm²/s for observer one had 80% sensitivity, 90.9% specificity, and 88.9% accuracy in diagnosis of recurrent breast carcinoma. For observer two, a cutoff ADC value of 1.25 × 10–3 mm²/s had sensitivity of 80%, specificity of 88.6%, and diagnostic accuracy of 87.03% in differentiating recurrent breast carcinoma from benign post-operative changes. This is nearly similar to Guatelli et al. [11] who stated that a cutoff ADC value of 1.03 × 10–3 mm²/s had specificity of 97.2% and diagnostic accuracy of 80.2% for differentiation between benign and malignant lesions. Also, our results are closely related to the results obtained by Yilmaz et al. (8), and they stated that sensitivity and specificity of ADC were 88% and 87%, respectively, at a cutoff value of 1.04 × 10–3 mm²/s. Altay and his colleagues [12] concluded that ADC value of 1.1 × 10–3 mm²/s as cutoff value for differentiation between malignant and benign breast lesions had a sensitivity of 91.3% and a specificity of 85.7%.

On comparing the sensitivity and specificity of unenhanced MRI with that of DCE-MRI, we found that unenhanced MRI had 81.8% sensitivity and 97.7% specificity versus 90.9% sensitivity and 100% specificity for DCE-MRI. The sensitivity and specificity of unenhanced breast MRI were variable among previous studies [7, 9, 17 18], and Telegrafo et al. [17] evaluated the role of unenhanced MRI in detection and characterization of breast cancer and concluded that it had sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic accuracy, PPV, and NPV values of 94%, 79%, 86%, 79%, and 94%, respectively. Kul and his colleagues [18] evaluated the role of unenhanced MRI in characterization of breast masses having a low probability of being malignant (BI-RADS 3 and 4A) and concluded that it had 91% specificity and 99% negative predictive value (NPV) for detection of breast cancer. Trimboli et al. [7] studied the role of unenhanced MRI in detecting breast cancer and concluded that it had sensitivity of 78% and specificity of 90%, and they attributed the low sensitivity of unenhanced MRI to its limited ability to detect DCIS and non-mass enhancement.

Conclusion

Finally, we concluded that unenhanced MRI including T1WI, T2WI, STIR, DWI, and ADC map had high sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy in diagnosis of recurrent breast carcinoma and differentiating it from benign post-operative changes and so can be used in patients with contraindication for contrast material injection as patients with impaired renal functions.