Introduction: In this retrospective study, we compared transverse short tau inversion recovery (STIR), transverse diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map and first post-contrast fat-saturated fast low-angle shot (FLASH) 3D T1 with pathology results in terms of their accuracy in estimating breast carcinoma size.
Methods: Magnetic resonance imaging data for 47 patients with invasive breast carcinoma, who were treated surgically, were reviewed. The longest dimension (LD) of the index lesion was measured using STIR, DWI, ADC map and first post-contrast FLASH 3D T1, and this was compared with the LD measured on the pathology specimen.
Results: All four MRI sequences overestimated the LD by an average of about 1 mm with 95% limits of agreement approximately 0 to 2 mm. This is not considered to be clinically significant in tumours of 10 mm or larger.
Conclusion: Magnetic resonance imaging serves as an accurate tool in sizing breast carcinomas. ADC may be a useful evaluation tool for sizing carcinomas without requiring contrast material.
Keywords: invasive breast carcinoma; magnetic resonance imaging; size.
© 2014 The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists.