Preoperative breast imaging guides surgical management

September 5, 2008 Diagnostic Imaging. Preoperative breast imaging guides surgical management Tumor size, metastatic spread, and location of additional cancerous foci determine viability of various breast conservation approaches BY EAVAN THORNTON, M.B., MRCPI, SEAMUS LOOBY, M.B., MRCPI, FFR(RCSI), AND LORNA HANLON, M.B., MRCPI(PAEDS) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in adult women. One woman in 11 will contract the disease during her lifetime. The primary goal of treatment is cure, through surgery either alone or in combination with radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. Surgical management options include breast conservation, mastectomy, and palliative treatment. The goal of breast surgery is treatment of the cancer in a single definitive procedure, leaving clear margins while also ensuring a satisfactory cosmetic outcome. Preoperative breast imaging provides vital information for the surgeon, enabling optimal procedural planning. It should also increase the likelihood that the surgeon can achieve clear margins, which is considered essential to avoid recurrent disease. An accurate preoperative radiological assessment of local disease extent is possible only if users understand the role of available imaging modalities and their pitfalls. Users should also appreciate the indications and contraindications of different surgical options and the information required by the surgeon.

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