Imaging characteristics of young age breast cancer (YABC) focusing on pathologic correlation and disease recurrence

The purpose of this study is to investigate imaging characteristics of young age breast cancer (YABC) focusing on correlation with pathologic factors and association with disease recurrence. From January 2017 to December 2019, patients under 40 years old who were diagnosed as breast cancer were enrolled in this study. Morphologic analysis of tumor and multiple quantitative parameters were obtained from pre-treatment dynamic contrast enhanced breast magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI). Tumor-stroma ratio (TSR), microvessel density (MVD) and endothelial Notch 1 (EC Notch 1) were investigated for correlation with imaging parameters. In addition, recurrence associated factors were assessed using both clinico-pathologic factors and imaging parameters. A total of 53 patients were enrolled. Several imaging parameters derived from apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) histogram showed negative correlation with TSR; and there was negative correlation between MVD and Ve in perfusion analysis. There were nine cases of recurrences with median interval of 16 months. Triple negative subtype and low CD34 MVD positivity in Notch 1 hotspots showed significant association with tumor recurrence. Texture parameters reflecting tumor sphericity and homogeneity were also associated with disease recurrence. In conclusion, several quantitative MRI parameters can be used as imaging biomarkers for tumor microenvironment and can predict disease recurrence in YABC.