MRI vs. histologic measurement of breast cancer following chemotherapy: Comparison with X-ray mammography and palpation

Twenty consecutive patients with breast cancer were evaluated following che motherapy using MRI to assess the size of cancer residua and compare these data with subsequent histologic measurements of the viable tumor. This retr ospective study also involved assessment of the preoperative size of the ma lignancy as determined by physical exam and x-ray mammogram. These values w ere later compared with the histology. The tumor size correlation coefficie nt between MRI and pathologic analysis was the highest, at 0.93. Physical e xam and x-ray mammography (available for 17 patients) produced correlation coefficients of 0.72 and 0.63, respectively, compared to histologic measure ment. The accuracy of MRI did not vary with the size of cancer residua. AM is an accurate method for preoperative assessment of breast cancer residua following chemotherapy. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.