(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Preoperative breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
prior to surgical intervention to treat breast cancer can reduce the number of
localized cancer recurrences by providing more precise information about the
location and extent of the disease prior to surgery.
"Local and regional recurrences after breast-conserving surgery are rare
events," lead author Valeria Dominelli, M.D., was quoted as saying. "However
young age and breast density put patients at a greater risk."
The study, performed at the University of Rome "La Sapienza" in Rome, Italy,
included 49 patients with a local recurrence that was detected after surgical
treatment of the primary carcinoma. Ten patients had a contrast-enhanced MRI
prior to surgery while the remaining 39 patients did not.
Cancer in the opposite breast and local recurrence were seen significantly more
often in patients who did not receive an MRI examination prior to surgery.
"Our study suggests that preoperative breast MRI staging allows for a
significant reduction in the number of local cancer recurrences at follow-up,"
Dr. Dominelli said. "Breast MRI should be recommended to patients with breast
cancer for a better evaluation of the extent of disease."
SOURCE: Presented at the American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS) Annual Meeting,
San Diego, CA, May 3, 2010
