Preoperative Breast Cancer Tumor Size Measurement: A Comparison of Ultrasonography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Author:
Chae Ho BYUN
1
;
Yireh HAN
;
Min Ki SEONG
;
Hyun-Ah KIM
;
Chan Sub PARK
Author Information
- Publication Type:1
- From: Journal of Breast Disease 2025;13(1):1-8
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Purpose:This study aimed to compare the accuracy of breast ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in measuring tumor size preoperatively in breast cancer patients, by comparing their measurements with postoperative pathological tumor size.
Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 418 breast cancer patients who underwent surgery between January and December 2018. Tumor sizes measured by US and MRI were compared with pathological tumor size using paired t-tests.
Results:The mean tumor size was 1.9±1.2 cm in pathology, 2.2±1.4 cm in US, and 2.2±1.5 cm in MRI. The mean absolute difference between pathological size and US measurements was 0.4±0.8 cm, while for MRI it was 0.5±0.9 cm. Paired t-test analysis showed no statistically significant difference between the accuracy of US and MRI measurements (p=0.244).
Conclusion:This study demonstrates that US and MRI have comparable accuracy in preoperative tumor size assessment, supporting US as a cost-effective, accessible alternative for surgical planning. However, since US results may vary with operator expertise, future studies should compare measurements across practitioners with varying skill levels to establish methods for optimizing accuracy. Future research should address multifocal tumors, microcalcifications, molecular subtypes, and age-related hormonal influences to refine imaging guidelines.
