Value of diffusion-weighted MRI in predicting early response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy of breast cancer

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to assess DWI with ROI-ADC and WL-ADC measurements in early response after NAC in breast cancer.

METHODS: Between January 2016 and December 2019, 55 women were enrolled in this prospective single-center study. MRI was performed at three time points for each patient: before treatment (MRI 1: DW and DCE MRI), after one cycle of NAC (MRI 2: noncontrast DW MRI), and after completion of NAC before surgery (MRI 3: DW and DCE MRI). ROI-ADC and WL-ADC measurements were obtained on MRI and were compared to histology findings and to the RCB class. Patients were categorized as having pCR or non-pCR.

RESULTS: Among 48 patients, 9 experienced pCR. An increase of ROI-ADC between MRI 1 and 2 of more than 47.5% had a sensitivity of 88.9% and a specificity of 63.4% in predicting pCR, whereas WL-ADC did not predict pCR. An increase of ROI-ADC between MRI 1 and 2 of more than 47.5% had a sensitivity of 83.3% and a specificity of 64.9% in predicting radiologic complete response. An increase of WL-ADC between MRI 1 and 2 of more than 25.5% had a sensitivity of 83.3% and a specificity of 75.5% in predicting radiologic complete response.

CONCLUSION: After one cycle of NAC, a significant increase in breast tumor ROI-ADC at DWI predicted complete pathologic and radiologic responses.

KEY POINTS: • An increase of WL-ADC between MRI 1 and 2 of more than 25.5% had a sensitivity of 83.3% and a specificity of 75.5% in predicting radiologic complete response. • An increase of ROI-ADC between MRI 1 and 2 of more than 47.5% had a sensitivity of 88.9% and a specificity of 63.4% in predicting pCR, and a sensitivity of 83.3% and a specificity of 64.9% in predicting radiologic complete response. • A significant increase in breast tumor ROI-ADC at DWI predicted complete pathologic and radiologic responses.