Abstract
Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the role of dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the detection of axillary lymph node metastasis based on the signal intensity-time curves. Materials and Methods: The data of 120 patients (benign patients, n = 91; malignant patients, n = 29) who underwent dynamic breast MRI were reviewed. The lymph nodes with the strongest criteria for malignancy (morphological-dynamic properties) were included in the analysis. Signal intensity-time curves were plotted by the software. Results: Of 29 patients with breast cancer, axillary lymph nodes were involved in 21 and not involved in the remaining 8. There was no significant difference between benign and malignant cases in terms of the distributions of Type Ia, Type Ib and Type IV curves (p = 0.12), whereas a significant difference was found between benign and malignant cases in terms of the distributions of Type II and III curves (p Conclusion: On dynamic MRI studies, benign and metastatic lymph nodes display different signal intensity-time curves.
Highlights
Carcinoma of the breast is the second most common malignancy in females, with an increasing incidence of approximately 3% per year [1,2]
We aimed to evaluate the role of dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the detection of axillary lymph node metastasis based on the signal intensity-time curves
The effect of axillary lymph node dissection on long-term treatment results in invasive breast cancer is controversial; it is frequently questioned because it is associated with high morbidity rates and neoadjuvant chemotherapy is already administered in aggressive local cancers [5]
Summary
Carcinoma of the breast is the second most common malignancy in females, with an increasing incidence of approximately 3% per year [1,2]. The effect of axillary lymph node dissection on long-term treatment results in invasive breast cancer is controversial; it is frequently questioned because it is associated with high morbidity rates and neoadjuvant chemotherapy is already administered in aggressive local cancers [5]. Except for these certain situations, there are studies suggesting that it is essential to detect axillary lymph node involvement in patients with breast cancer; since, it is a very important prognostic indicator in these patients and radiotherapy is indicated if the patient had >4 positive nodes [2,6]. Several studies have reported that physical examination, mammography, ultrasonography (US) and even other imaging methods performed via various radionuclides may not be sufficient in the detec-
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