MR imaging properties of breast cancer molecular subtypes.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we aim at investigating the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging features of molecular subtypes, according to the BIRADS Atlas.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The preoperative MRI examinations of 104 breast cancer patients were reviewed retrospectively using the 5th Edition Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) Atlas. According to BI-RADS, cases were classified as mass or non-mass enhancement. Background parenchymal enhancements of the cases were evaluated. The population was examined for shape, contour, enhancement characteristics of masses, distribution and internal enhancement patterns of non-mass enhancements, background parenchymal enhancement, multifocal/multicentric (MFMS) status, presence of axillary LAP, ADC values, and kinetic aspects. The Kruskal-Wallis and Chi-square tests were used to explore the connection between molecular subtypes and MR data.

RESULTS

The link between molecular subtypes and mass/non-mass enhancement was discovered to be statistically significant (p=0.007). The shape (p=0.001) and contour (p=0.001) properties of the masses were observed to differ depending on the molecular subtypes. The Luminal types were usually irregularly shaped with irregular/spiculated contours, whereas the HER-2 (+) and Triple (-) subtypes were mostly oval/round with smooth contours. The subtype with the highest non-mass enhancement rate (70%) was HER-2 (+). Axillary lymphadenopathy was most common (64.3%) in the Triple (-) subtype (p=0.033).

CONCLUSIONS

According to the BIRADS Atlas, molecular subtypes exhibit a wide range of imaging properties in MR in our study.