Contrast-enhanced MR imaging as a prognostic indicator of breast cancer

Background. Using contrast-enhanced MR imaging in the diagnosis of breast cancer may provide additional information not only on tumor extension but also on the biological behavior of tumors. Thus certain characteristics such as tumor angiogenesis and the proliferating activity of the tumor, which have been shown to correlate significantly with prognosis, are both potentially amenable to analysis by MR imaging. Material and Methods. We compared contrast enhancement in 50 malignant breast tumors at MR imaging to several prognostic factors, such as tumor size, lymph-node status, histological grade of malignancy, tumor angiogenesis, and proliferating activity as shown by the mitotic count and PCNA immunoreactivity. Results. There was significant correlation between contrast enhancement at MR imaging of breast cancer and both tumor angiogenesis and proliferative cellular activity as shown by PCNA immunoreactivity. Furthermore, there was a correlation between contrast enhancement and tumor malignancy grade as well as tumor invasiveness. Conclusion: These observations suggest that contrast enhancement at MR imaging may be influenced by factors that have prognostic value. If this assumption is correct, contrast-enhanced MR imaging may become a valuable prognostic tool in the pre-operative evaluation of breast cancers.