Positron Emission Tomography/Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Breast

Abstract

Introduction Despite advances in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, it remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality. In the United States, approximately 232,000 new cases of breast cancer and 40,000 cancer deaths were expected in 2013, and 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. Currently, mammography is the primary method of breast cancer screening; however, extensive controversy exists regarding the timing, frequency, and schedule of such screening. Mammography has its limitations, with reported sensitivities ranging from30%-96% and is influenced bymultiple factors, including age and breast tissue density. Given the known limitations of mammography, alternative modalities have been explored to aid in the diagnosis of breast cancer, including dynamic contract-enhanced magnetic resonance tomography (DCE-MRI), whole-breast ultrasound, andmolecular breast imaging using positron emission tomography (PET). Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET/computed tomography (CT) has been used in patients with breast cancer as a tool to diagnose breast cancer as well as to detect metastasis and recurrence. This article reviews the current state of DCE-MRI and FDG-PET/CT in patients with breast cancer and then delves into the potential utilization of PET/MRI (Figs. 1-3).