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Tracking the Mammary Architectural Features and Detecting Breast Cancer with Magnetic Resonance Diffusion Tensor Imaging
Published on: December 15, 2014
Apparent diffusion coefficients of breast tumors: clinical application
Masamitsu Hatakenaka1, Hiroyasu Soeda, Hidetake Yabuuchi
1Department of Clinical Radiology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan. mhatake@radiol.med.kyushu-u.ac.jp
Summary
Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) can help differentiate benign and malignant breast tumors. Higher tumor cellularity is associated with lower ADC values in breast cancer.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Oncology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Breast tumors require accurate differential diagnosis.
- Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) offers insights into tissue microstructure.
Purpose of the Study:
- Evaluate the diagnostic utility of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) for breast tumors.
- Determine the relationship between ADC and tumor cellularity.
Main Methods:
- 140 breast tumors in 136 female patients underwent DWI with ADC calculation.
- Histological subtypes included fibroadenoma, invasive ductal carcinoma, medullary carcinoma, and mucinous carcinoma.
- Tumor cellularity was assessed from surgical specimens.
Main Results:
- Significant ADC differences were found between fibroadenoma and cancers, and between mucinous carcinoma and other cancers.
- Tumor cellularity also varied significantly across histological types.
- An inverse correlation was observed between ADC and tumor cellularity (r²=0.451).
Conclusions:
- ADC shows potential for differentiating benign from malignant breast tumors.
- Tumor ADC is inversely related to tumor cellularity.
