MR imaging findings in the contralateral breast of women with recently diagnosed breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency and positive predictive value of biopsy performed on the basis of MR imaging findings in the contralateral breast in women with recently diagnosed breast cancer.


METHODS
We performed a retrospective review of records of 1336 consecutive breast MR imaging examinations over a 2-year period. Of these examinations, 223 imaged the asymptomatic, mammographically normal contralateral breast in women whose breast cancer was diagnosed within 6 months preceding MR imaging. Records of these 223 examinations were reviewed to determine the frequency of recommending contralateral breast biopsy and the biopsy results.


RESULTS
Contralateral breast biopsy was recommended in 72 (32%) of 223 women and performed in 61 women. Cancer occult to mammography and physical examination was detected by MR imaging in 12 women, constituting 20% (12/61) of women who underwent contralateral biopsy and 5% (12/223) of women who underwent contralateral breast MR imaging. Among these 12 cancers, six (50%) were ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and six (50%) were infiltrating carcinoma. The median size of infiltrating carcinoma was 0.5 cm (range, 0.1-1.0 cm). Contralateral biopsy revealed benign (n = 31) or high-risk (n = 18) lesions in 49 women, constituting 80% (49/61) of women who underwent contralateral biopsy and 22% (49/223) of women who underwent contralateral MR imaging.


CONCLUSIONS
In women with recently diagnosed breast cancer, MR imaging of the contralateral breast led to a biopsy recommendation in 32%. Cancer was found in 20% of women who underwent contralateral breast biopsy and in 5% of women who underwent contralateral breast MR imaging.
Liberman
Laura
L
Breast Imaging Section, Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, USA.
Morris
Elizabeth A
EA
Kim
Cathleen M
CM
Kaplan
Jennifer B
JB
Abramson
Andrea F
AF
Menell
Jennifer H
JH
Van Zee
Kimberly J
KJ
Dershaw
D David
DD
D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008327:Mammography; D008875:Middle Aged; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors