Effectiveness and tasks of breast MRI surveillance for high-risk women with cancer susceptibility genes other than BRCA1/2: a single institution study.

BACKGROUND: In Japan, with the introduction of multigene panel testing, there is an urgent need to build a new medical system for hereditary breast cancer patients that covers pathogenic variants other than BRCA1/2. The aim of this study was to reveal the current status of breast MRI surveillance for high-risk breast cancer susceptibility genes other than BRCA1/2 and the characteristics of detected breast cancer.

METHODS: We retrospectively examined 42 breast MRI surveillance with contrast performed on patients with hereditary tumors other than BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants at our hospital from 2017 to 2021. MRI exams were evaluated independently by two radiologists. Final histopathological diagnosis for malignant lesions were obtained from surgical specimen.

RESULTS: A total of 16 patients included TP53, CDH1, PALB2, ATM pathogenic variants and 3 variant of unknown significance. 2 patients with TP53 pathogenic variants were detected breast cancer by annual MRI surveillance. The rate of cancer detection was 12.5% (2/16). One patient was detected synchronous bilateral breast cancer and unilateral multiple breast cancers (3 lesions in 1 patient), so there were 4 malignant lesions in total. Surgical pathology of 4 lesions were 2 ductal carcinoma in situ, 1 invasive lobular carcinoma, and 1 invasive ductal carcinoma. MRI findings of 4 malignant lesions were detected as 2 non mass enhancement, 1 focus and 1 small mass. All of 2 patients with PALB2 pathogenic variants had previously developed breast cancer.

CONCLUSIONS: Germline TP53 and PALB2 were strongly associated with breast cancer, suggesting that MRI surveillance is essential for breast cancer-related hereditary predisposition.