Breast-conserving surgery using supine magnetic resonance imaging in breast cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy

BACKGROUND: Success of breast-conserving surgery (BCS) following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) depends on accurate assessment of the initial lesion. We developed a new procedure (NIPR) in which initial naked magnetic resonance images are projected onto the skin before BCS. METHODS: Thirty-five breast cancer patients underwent supine oblique MRI of the operative area. In 20 DCIS patients, the metallic clips were reproduced by projection on the skin using NIPR, and discrepancies between the projection site and clip were measured on X-rays. Fifteen patients (T1;3,T2;8,T3;4 cases) treated with NIPR were compared to 20 (T1;5 , T2;15 cases) treated using the conventional method with regard to excision area and additional excision rate of BCS after NAC. RESULTS: The median discrepancy (linear distance) was 2.6 mm. NIPR significantly reduced the excision area and additional excision rate in T1 and T2 compared to the conventional method (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: NIPR is a reliable technique for BCS following NAC with significant reductions in excision area and additional excision rate and superior cosmetic results.