Department of Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Center (Maastricht UMC), P.O. Box 5800, 6202 AZ, Maastricht, The Netherlands,
Insights Imaging. 2013 Apr;4(2):177-84. doi: 10.1007/s13244-012-0214-8. Epub 2013 Jan 16.
To analyse bilateral differences in the cross-sectional area of the internal mammary artery (IMA) and vein (IMV) in breast cancer patients compared to healthy controls.
On 135 breast MRIs the cross-sectional areas of the IMA and IMV were measured on the left and right side in the second and third intercostal space (ICS) by two independent readers. Differences were analysed using a linear mixed model.
In the healthy control group (n = 91) no significant differences between the cross-sectional areas of the IMA and IMV were observed. Both readers reported a mean adjusted difference of 0.12 mm2 (p = 0.298) and 0.21 mm2 (p = 0.058) for the IMA in the second ICS. In the malignancy group (n = 44) the cross-sectional area was significantly larger on the malignancy side compared to the contralateral side. The largest difference in the IMA was measured in the second ICS with a mean adjusted difference for reader 1 of 1.37 mm2 (p < 0.001) and for reader 2 of 0.81 mm2 (p = 0.003).
The vascular cross-sectional area of internal mammary vessels was significantly different on the side with breast cancer compared to the contralateral side. This difference was not observed in healthy controls.
• MRI has become an important imaging modality in the diagnostic workup of breast cancer. • In healthy persons no significant difference in the size of the left and right IMA is observed. • A significant enlargement of the IMA on the malignant side occurs in most patients.
分析乳腺癌患者与健康对照者相比，内乳动脉（IMA）和静脉（IMV）的横截面积的双侧差异。
在 135 例乳腺 MRI 中，由两名独立的读者在第二和第三肋间隙（ICS）的左侧和右侧测量 IMA 和 IMV 的横截面积。使用线性混合模型分析差异。
在健康对照组（n = 91）中，IMA 和 IMV 的横截面积无显著差异。两位读者报告的平均调整差异分别为 0.12 mm2（p = 0.298）和 0.21 mm2（p = 0.058），用于第二 ICS 中的 IMA。在恶性肿瘤组（n = 44）中，与对侧相比，恶性肿瘤侧的横截面积明显更大。IMA 的最大差异在第二 ICS 中测量，读者 1 的平均调整差异为 1.37 mm2（p < 0.001），读者 2 的平均调整差异为 0.81 mm2（p = 0.003）。
与对侧相比，乳腺癌侧的内乳血管血管横截面积明显不同。在健康对照者中未观察到这种差异。
• MRI 已成为乳腺癌诊断工作中重要的成像方式。
• 在健康人群中，左、右 IMA 的大小无显著差异。
• 大多数患者恶性侧的 IMA 明显增大。
