Imaging-Concordant Benign MRI-Guided Vacuum-Assisted Breast Biopsy May Not Warrant MRI Follow-Up

Objective: The follow-up of breast lesions with imaging-concordant benign histopathology results on MRI-guided vacuum-assisted biopsy (VAB) is not currently standardized. We determined the false omission rate of breast MRI-guided VAB with benign histopathology (negative results) to assess whether breast MRI follow-up is needed.

Materials and methods: The medical records of patients who underwent 9-gauge breast MRI-guided VAB during 2007-2012 were reviewed retrospectively. Lesions with imaging-concordant benign histopathology results from MRI-guided VAB and surgery or 2 years or more of imaging follow-up were included. The false omission rate (1 - negative predictive value; [number of false-negative results / number of negative results]) of MRI-guided VAB was calculated.

Results: One hundred sixty-nine lesions were included, and 135 had only imaging follow-up (mammography follow-up: range, 17-107 months [median, 52 months]; MRI follow-up: range, 5-95 months [median, 35 months]). Of the 135 lesions with only imaging follow-up, 48 had mammography only (range, 26-86 months; median, 52 months), and 87 had mammography (range, 17-107 months; median, 52 months) and MRI (range, 5-95 months; median, 35 months). Thirty-four lesions had surgical correlation, and there were no cases of imaging-surgical discordance. Four malignancies were later diagnosed in the same breast in which MRI-guided VAB had been performed. One (0.6%) malignancy was invasive ductal carcinoma at 1 cm from the MRI-guided VAB site; it was mammographically detected 24 months after MRI-guided VAB. The other three malignancies developed 4 cm or more from the site of MRI-guided VAB: one ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) detected on mammography 12 months after MRI-guided VAB, one DCIS detected on MRI 24 months after MRI-guided VAB, and one Paget disease lesion detected at physical examination 32 months after MRI-guided VAB.

Conclusion: Breast MRI-guided VAB has a low false omission rate. MRI follow-up of lesions with concordant benign MRI-guided VAB histopathology results may not be warranted.