This article is part of the supplement: Symposium Mammographicum 2008
Ultra-small iron particle-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of axillary lymph nodes in breast cancer
Breast Cancer Research 2008, 10(Suppl 3):P3 doi:10.1186/bcr2001
The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://breast-cancer-research.com/content/10/S3/P3
| Published: | 7 July 2008 |
© 2008 BioMed Central Ltd
Objective
To report the diagnostic value of ultra-small iron particle (USPIO)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the detection of axillary lymph node metastases in patients with breast carcinomas.
Methods
Patients with breast carcinomas were enrolled in a prospective phase III study. MRI of the axilla was performed at 1 Tesla prior to and 24 to 36 hours after intravenous administration of USPIO (Sinerem®; Guerbet, France). MRI sequences were performed pre and post USPIO administration (axial T1 3D FFE, axial and sagittal T2* FFE, and T2 TSE). Imaging results were compared with histopathologic findings.
Results
A total of 154 lymph nodes were detected equally by pre and post USPIO-MRI. USPIO-MRI revealed a node-by-node sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 92%, 99%, and 98%, respectively. USPIO-enhanced MRI did not miss any lymph node metastases in a patient-by-patient correlation.
Conclusion
USPIO-MRI is a valuable method in the assessment of axillary lymph node metastases in patients with breast carcinomas and has potential as a noninvasive sentinel lymph node technique.