bcr2001 BCJ Oral presentation <p>Ultra-small iron particle-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of axillary lymph nodes in breast cancer</p> Helbiech TH

Department of Medical Imaging, UHN/MSH/WCH, University of Toronto, Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Canada

 Breast Cancer Research <p>Symposium Mammographicum 2008</p> Meeting abstracts http://breast-cancer-research.com/supplements/notes/BCR-vol10-suppl3-info.pdf <p>Symposium Mammographicum 2008</p> Lille, France 6–8 July 2008 http://www.sympmamm.org.uk/ 1465-5411 2008 10 Suppl 3 P3 http://breast-cancer-research.com/content/10/S3/P3 10.1186/bcr2001 7 7 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.