The international surgical journal with global reach

This is the Scientific Surgery Archive, which contains all randomized clinical trials in surgery that have been identified by searching the top 50 English language medical journal issues since January 1998. Compiled by Jonothan J. Earnshaw, former Editor-in-Chief, BJS

Population‐based study of the effect of preoperative breast MRI on the surgical management of ductal carcinoma in situ. BJS 2019; 106: 1488-1494.

Published: 6th August 2019

Authors: K. B. I. M. Keymeulen, S. M. E. Geurts, M. B. I. Lobbes, E. M. Heuts, L. E. M. Duijm, L. F. S. Kooreman et al.

Background

Determinants of the use of breast MRI in patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in the Netherlands were studied, and whether using MRI influenced the rates of positive resection margins and mastectomies.

Method

All women aged less than 75 years, and diagnosed with DCIS between 2011 and 2015, were identified from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed, adjusting for incidence year, age, hospital type, DCIS grade and multifocality.

Results

Breast MRI was performed in 2382 of 10 415 DCIS cases (22·9 per cent). In multivariable analysis, patients aged less than 50 years, those with high‐ or intermediate‐grade DCIS and patients with multifocal disease were significantly more likely to have preoperative MRI. Patients undergoing MRI were more likely to have a mastectomy, either as first surgical treatment or following breast‐conserving surgery (BCS) in the event of positive margins (odds ratio (OR) 2·11, 95 per cent c.i. 1·91 to 2·33). The risk of positive surgical margins after BCS was similar for those with versus without MRI. The secondary mastectomy rate after BCS was higher in patients who had MRI, especially in women aged less than 50 years (OR 1·94, 1·31 to 2·89). All findings were similar for low‐ and intermediate/high‐grade DCIS.

Conclusion

Adding MRI to conventional breast imaging did not improve surgical outcome in patients diagnosed with primary DCIS. The likelihood of undergoing a mastectomy was twice as high in the MRI group, and no reduction in the risk of margin involvement was observed after BCS.

Full text