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Frequency and Clinical Significance of Extramammary Findings on Breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Frequency and Clinical Significance of Extramammary Findings on Breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Sneha Phadke, Alexandra Thomas, Limin Yang, Catherine Moore, Chang Xia and Mary C Schroeder
Clinical breast cancer, Vol.16(5), pp.424-429
10/2016
DOI: 10.1016/j.clbc.2015.08.003
PMID: 26403074
url
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/7282565View
Open Access

Abstract

The use of breast magnetic resonance imaging has increased, and with that, questions regarding incidental extramammary findings (EMFs). We analyzed 1305 breast magnetic resonance images and found EMFs reported in 10.7% of studies (n = 140). Upstaging was rare and occurred in 0.6% of studies in this series (n = 8). EMFs did not lead to significant delay in surgical or systemic treatment for breast cancer. Use of breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for screening and local staging of breast cancer has increased. With this, questions have emerged regarding the management and effect of extramammary findings (EMFs) reported on breast MRI. Breast MRI studies performed between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2012 at the University of Iowa were analyzed. Data were collected regarding number and location of EMFs, characteristics of the patients who had a breast MRI, and time to first treatment among the patients who had a breast MRI for stage I-III breast cancer. During the study period, 1305 breast MRIs were obtained in 772 women. An EMF was found in 140 studies (10.7%) and 113 women (14.6%). EMFs were more likely in MRIs of older patients (50 vs. 54 years, P = .004) and postmenopausal women (P = .001). Anatomically, most EMFs were seen in the liver (89 of 140) or bone (21 of 140). Eight women (0.6%) had an EMF on breast MRI that led to upstaging to stage IV breast cancer. For patients with stage I-III breast cancer, the finding of an EMF on breast MRI did not affect time to initial cancer treatment (13 vs. 14 days; P = .586). EMFs on breast MRI are seen with some frequency and occur more commonly in older, postmenopausal women. In our study, most EMFs were benign and did not affect patient outcome with regard to upstaging to stage IV disease or time to cancer treatment. A very small portion of studies revealed subclinical advanced breast cancer.
Incidental finding Upstaging Breast MRI Breast neoplasm Time to initial treatment

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