Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 28, 2025
Tracking the Mammary Architectural Features and Detecting Breast Cancer with Magnetic Resonance Diffusion Tensor Imaging
Published on: December 15, 2014
Diffusion-Weighted Imaging of Different Breast Cancer Molecular Subtypes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Hans-Jonas Meyer1, Andreas Wienke2, Alexey Surov3
1Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
Background:
Magnetic resonance imaging can be used to diagnose breast cancer (BC). Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) can be used to reflect tumor microstructure.
Objectives:
This analysis aimed to compare ADC values between molecular subtypes of BC based on a large sample of patients.
Method:
The MEDLINE library and Scopus database were screened for the associations between ADC and molecular subtypes of BC up to April 2020. The primary end point of the systematic review was the ADC value in different BC subtypes. Overall, 28 studies were included.
Results:
The included studies comprised a total of 2,990 tumors. Luminal A type was diagnosed in 865 cases (28.9%), luminal B in 899 (30.1%), human epidermal growth factor receptor (Her2)-enriched in 597 (20.0%), and triple-negative in 629 (21.0%). The mean ADC values of the subtypes were as follows: luminal A: 0.99 × 10-3 mm2/s (95% CI 0.94-1.04), luminal B: 0.97 × 10-3 mm2/s (95% CI 0.89-1.05), Her2-enriched: 1.02 × 10-3 mm2/s (95% CI 0.95-1.08), and triple-negative: 0.99 × 10-3 mm2/s (95% CI 0.91-1.07).
Conclusions:
ADC values cannot be used to discriminate between molecular subtypes of BC.
