On the Additional Information Provided by 3T-MRI ADC in Predicting Tumor Cellularity and Microscopic Behavior

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Oncology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Assessing invasive breast cancer aggressiveness is crucial for treatment planning.
• Current methods often rely on invasive biopsies.
• Developing non-invasive predictors is a key research area.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate if Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) values from 3T Diffusion Weighted-Images (DWI) can serve as a non-invasive predictor of pathophysiologic tumor aggressiveness in invasive breast cancer.

Main Methods:

• 100 patients with invasive breast cancer underwent 3T-MRI including DWI/ADC sequences.
• ADC values were correlated with histological grading, Ki-67 index, and cellularity.
• Statistical analyses included Spearman's Rho, Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, and ROC curves.

Main Results:

• ADC values significantly correlated with tumor grade, ER status, Ki-67 index, and cellularity.
• ADC values were significantly lower in higher grades (G2, G3) and higher Ki-67 groups.
• ROC analysis showed good accuracy in predicting high-grade tumors and high cellularity.

Conclusions:

• 3T-DWI ADC is a direct predictor of cellular aggressiveness and proliferation in invasive breast carcinoma.
• ADC values can be used as a supporting non-invasive factor for preoperative characterization of invasive breast cancer.
• This technique aids in understanding macroscopic lesion behavior before surgery.