Comparison of clinical and magnetic resonance imaging findings of triple-negative breast cancer with non-triple-negative tumours

Introduction
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has some distinctive features. The aim of the study was to compare clinical and breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of TNBC with non-triple-negative breast cancer (nTNBC) in molecular subtypes such as ADC (apparent diffusion coefficient) values, T2-weighted (T2W) image intensity, shape, margin, lymph node involvement, grade, multifocality, multicentricity, bilaterality, and enhancement pattern differences between tumour subtypes.

Material and methods
A total of 141 patients who underwent breast biopsy at our institution between January 2010 and June 2018 were included in this study. Patients were divided into molecular subtypes according to hormone receptor status, and Ki-67 index. Tumour grade, enhancement patterns, age, lymph node involvement, ADC values, breast imaging reporting and data system (BI-RADS) category, bilaterality, multifocality, multicentricity, margin, shape, and T2W image intensity were evaluated for these subtypes.

Results
ADC values were higher in triple-negative tumours than in luminal A and luminal B tumours (p = 0.010 and p = 0.002, respectively). Circumscribed margin, type 2 enhancement curve, and rim enhancement were significantly higher in triple-negative tumours (p < 0.001). No significant difference was found between the groups in terms of other MRI findings including bilaterality, multifocality, multicentricity, shape, and T2W image intensity (p > 0.05).

Conclusions
ADC values, circumscribed margin, and rim enhancement can provide important information about the tumour’s biological behaviour and the course of the disease.