Value of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging of the breast for the differentiation of fat necrosis and tumor recurrence after breast-conserving surgery: A case report

Introduction

Breast-conserving surgery combined with radiotherapy has been widely adopted for early-stage breast cancer. Due to its ability to characterize tissue using a multi-parametric approach, magnetic resonance imaging of the breast (breast MRI) is nowadays routinely used for the differentiation of suspicious breast masses and tumor recurrence vs. post-surgical alterations. Because breast MRI has the potential to solve most of the cases and exclude malignancy, these indications are remunerated by German health insurances. Nevertheless, in rare cases, fat necrosis following breast conserving surgery may simulate tumor recurrence or a secondary malignancy ultimately requiring biopsy for clarification. In such cases, the use of novel sequence techniques like diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) can provide important additional ­information on tissue characterization supplemental to standard sequences in a multi-parametric protocol.

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