title: Preoperative MRI of the breast (POMB) influences primary treatment in breast cancer: a prospective, randomized, multicenter study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has shown high sensitivity in determining tumor extent, multifocality, and occult contralateral breast cancer. Low specificity, unnecessary mastectomies, and costs are arguments against MRI. The purpose of this study was to determine whether preoperative breast MRI would affect primary surgical management, reduce reexcision/reoperation procedures, and influence the choice of neoadjuvant treatment in patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective, randomized, multicenter study included 440 breast cancer patients younger than aged 56 years from three, Swedish, large-volume breast units. Patients were randomly allocated on a 1:1 basis to either preoperative staging with breast MRI (n = 220) or no breast MRI (n = 220) (control group). Treatment planning of all patients was discussed at multidisciplinary team conferences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In patients randomized to the MRI group, who had an observed higher percentage of planned breast-conserving surgery (BCS) compared with the control group, a change from suggested breast conservation to mastectomy occurred in 23 of 153 (15 %) patients. Breast MRI provided additional information in 83 of 220 (38 %) patients, which caused a change in treatment plan in 40 (18 %). The breast reoperation rate was significantly lower in the MRI group: 11 of 220 (5 %) versus 33 of 220 (15 %) in the control group (p < 0.001). The number of mastectomies, axillary reoperations, and the number of patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy after definitive treatment did not differ significantly between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preoperative staging with breast MRI in women younger than age 56 years altered the treatment plan in 18 % of the patients. Although a higher MRI-related conversion rate from breast conservation to mastectomy was found, the final numbers of mastectomies did not differ between the two groups. The breast reoperation rate in the MRI group was significantly reduced.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Västmanland County Hospital, 721 89, Västerås, Sweden, virginia.gonzalez@ltv.se.
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sandelin
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karlsson
authors.forename: Wiveca
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Åberg
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Löfgren
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Iliescu
authors.forename: Staffan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eriksson
authors.forename: Brita
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Arver
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001365:Axilla; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012086:Reoperation; D055815:Young Adult