Evaluation of association between degree of background parenchymal enhancement on MRI and breast cancer subtype.

Purpose: Evaluate possible association between BPE and breast cancer tumor type/prognostic markers.

Methods: IRB approved retrospective study from 1/2010-1/2014 identified 328 patients who had breast MRI and available clinical/pathology data. BPE was categorized according to BI-RADS. The association between BPE and breast cancer molecular subtype/prognostic factors was evaluated.

Results: No significant association was present between high BPE and the following: HER2+ tumors, basal tumors, tumors with axillary nodal disease, high nuclear grade tumors, high Ki-67 index tumors or larger tumors.

Conclusion: Patients with high BPE may be at increased risk for breast cancer but not necessarily for those cancer subtypes with a poor prognosis.