Abstract

Objective

Triple-negative breast cancer comprises a small percentage of all breast cancers. However, they are accountable for a high percentage of the loss of lives. Being able to predict triple-negative breast cancer by imaging may play a pivotal role in earlier management and the planning of the treatment. We scrutinized imaging features for 64 patients diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer on magnetic resonance imaging to define the characteristic findings in imaging. An additional objective was to define the spectrum of imaging findings concerning triple-negative breast cancer in mammography as well as ultrasonography.

Methods

In this descriptive study, between 2018 and 2022, 64 patients diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer and underwent magnetic resonance imaging were enrolled in our present study. Imaging findings were evaluated based on the (Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System) (BI-RADS) Atlas, fifth edition.

Results

Triple-negative breast cancer was more often localized posteriorly in 29 patients (45%). Fifty-five (86%) of the 64 lesions revealed mass enhancement. The internal enhancement patterns were mostly in the rim (36%) and heterogeneous pattern (42%). Masses were commonly round/oval-shaped (63.6%) with irregular margins (51%). It was seen unifocally in 40 (63%) of the patients. The early enhancement was average in 25 (39%) and rapid in 22 (34%) patients, with washout delay enhancement in 24 of 55 cases. Intratumoral copiously high signal occurred in 22 (34%) and high signal intensity in 20 (31%) on T2-weighted images. Round/oval-shaped masses with indistinct margins were common findings in mammography and ultrasonography.

Conclusion

Our results show that triple-negative breast cancer is typically seen as a round/oval-shaped mass with irregular margins and rim-heterogeneous enhancement. Also, triple-negative breast cancer is most commonly related to a very high T2 signal intensity, and they are usually found as unifocal lesions.

Cite this article as

Cingöz E, Günöz Cömert R, Bayramoğlu Z, Cabıoğlu N, Yılmaz R. Can we predict triple-negative breast cancer with magnetic resonance imaging findings? Current Research in MRI. 2022; 1(2): 33-37.