Evaluation of molecular subtypes of breast cancer using MRI BI-RADS Lexicon

Abstract

Abstract Background Molecular subtyping of breast cancer is one of the prognostic factors which play a very important role in managing patient’s treatment plan. The MRI BI-RADS Lexicon is initially used to categorize breast lesions but recent attempts were employed to differentiate breast lesions based on their molecular subtypes using this lexicon. The study aimed to evaluate of the role of the MRI BI-RADS Lexicon in classifying different molecular subtypes of breast cancer especially after coupling with Kaiser scoring system. Methods This retrospective study was conducted on 147 patients with 170 malignant breast lesions. They underwent Pre-contrast and a Dynamic contrast MRI study. Retrospective interpretation of the morphological and dynamic criteria of the breast lesions based on the MRI BI-RADS criteria was carried out followed by reassessment of the same lesions by Kaiser scoring. Resulting data were correlated with histopathological and immunological characterization. Results Luminal subtypes were more frequently encountered as mass lesions, contrary to the Non-Luminal lesions which showed a more frequent non-mass presentation value (P 0.002). The shape, margin, internal enhancement pattern of the mass lesions showed significant variability between different molecular subtypes (P < 0.001, < 0.001, < 0.001) respectively. On Dynamic study, Plateau curve was a more evident pattern with Luminal lesions contrasting with their Non-Luminal counterparts which showed a washout pattern more frequently (P 0.0004). Most of luminal A cancers were presented as mass lesions with rim enhancement and categorized as BIRADS 4 while most of Her2neu positive cancers (including luminal B entity) were presented as non-mass lesions with irregular shape and dark internal septations and categorized as BIRADS 5 with statistically significant values (P < 0.001). Coupling with Kaiser scoring system improved the categorization of non-luminal tumors as BIRADS 5 lesions especially the aggressive TN cancers. Conclusions MRI-BIRADS lexicon can be of great value in the non-invasive molecular characterization of breast cancer. Kaiser score improved the categorization of TN cancers which were upgraded to BIRADS 5 category.