Efficacy of breast MRI in elderly women

Abstract

608 Background: Breast MRI is useful in evaluating extent of disease and screening of high risk patients, especially younger patients with dense breasts. The utility of MRI in the elderly population is currently unknown. The purpose of this study was to review the use of breast MRI and MRI findings in elderly women. Methods: Retrospective review identified women over the age of 70 who underwent breast MRI at our institution between 11/2000 and 12/2005. Clinicopathologic features, MRI results and mammograms (MMG) were reviewed. Results: 228 patients were identified. The mean age was 73.5 years (range 70–91). Forty-three patients (19%) had no history of breast cancer, 99 (43%) had a history of breast cancer, and 86 (38%) had a current diagnosis of breast cancer at the time of MRI. Ninety-two patients (40%) underwent MRI for screening, 49 (21%) as further workup for an abnormal MMG or physical finding, and 78 (34%) for extent of disease assessment. MRI found 49 additional sites of abnormality and 15 additional cancers (14% false positive). Five cancers were detected in women with no current diagnosis of cancer. In patients with a diagnosis of cancer at the time of MRI, 10 additional cancers were found: 7 in the contralateral breast and 3 additional ipsilateral sites. Conclusions: MRI detected an additional 15 mammographically occult breast cancers in this population of women over the age of 70. MRI was efficacious in screening as well as evaluating extent of disease, with a relatively low false-positive rate of 14%. Breast MRI is a useful tool in the evaluation of elderly patients; further study in the use of MRI for screening in this population is needed. [Table: see text] No significant financial relationships to disclose.