Usefulness of Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Value of Diffusion-Weighted Imaging and Peak Standardized Uptake Values of Positron Emission Tomography-CT for Predicting Prognostic Factors of Breast Cancer

Abstract

Purpose This study was performed to retrospectively correlate the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value and peak standardized uptake value (pSUV) with prognostic factors and MRI findings for breast lesions. Materials and Methods Ninety four breast cancers in 82 women were included in this study. Our patients underwent presurgical MRI including diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), 18-fluorodeoxyglucose PET-CT, and immunohistological staining of the surgical or biopsy specimens. We evaluated relationships between mean ADCs and pSUVs with a variety of prognostic factors (age, tumor size, histologic grade of tumor, hormone receptors, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 expression status, and nodal metastasis) and MRI findings (shape, margin and internal enhancement of mass, T2-signal intensity, and kinetics), using statistical methods. Results Both mean ADCs and pSUVs were significantly associated with histologic grade (p = 0.000 and p = 0.001) and nodal metastasis (p = 0.013 and p = 0.001). pSUVs were significantly associated with tumor size and estrogen receptor status, as well as irregular shape and rim enhancement pattern on MRI findings. On multivariate analysis, mean ADCs were significantly associated with invasiveness, estrogen receptor status and HER-2 expression status. PSUVs were only significantly associated with tumor size. Conclusion Mean pSUVs on PET-CT and ADCs on DWI helped predict prognosis of breast cancer.

Keywords

• breast cancer
• prognostic factor
• magnetic resonance imaging
• diffusion magnetic resonance imaging
• pet-ct