M. Douek et al., Does preoperative MRI influence the extent of surgical resection in conservative breast cancer surgery?, BREAST, 8(2), 1999, pp. 84-88
We assessed prospectively the impact of preoperative breast magnetic resona
nce (MRI) on the extent of surgical resection. Of 131 breast cancers treate
d with breast conservation over 18 months, 41 underwent preoperative MRT. S
cans were shown to the operating surgeon to indicate the location of lesion
s and their local extent. Clinical information and histological assessment
of wide local excision specimens were compared between those patients who u
nderwent preoperative MRI and those who did not.
There was no significant difference between the MRI group (N=41) and no-MRI
group (n=90) in average specimen weight (P = 0.72) or circumferential marg
in status (P = 0.17). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated a positive
correlation between margin status and patient age (P = 0.045), younger pati
ents being more likely to have involved margins, and a negative correlation
with MRI status (P = 0.006) these women having an MRI being more likely to
have negative margins.
Preoperative MRI does not currently influence the extent of surgical resect
ion in breast conservation surgery.