Prognostic Role of MRI Enhancement Features in Patients With Breast Cancer: Value of Adjacent Vessel Sign and Increased Ipsilateral Whole-Breast Vascularity

The purpose of this study was to compare adjacent vessel sign, increased ipsilateral whole-breast vascularity, and various MRI features as described in the American College of Radiology BI-RADS MRI lexicon with histopathologic predictors in patients with unilateral breast cancer. We retrospectively evaluated breast MRI examinations of 249 patients with histologically confirmed breast cancer. In addition to the BI-RADS MRI lexicon, the adjacent vessel sign and increased ipsilateral whole-breast vascularity of the cancer-bearing breast were evaluated by two independent observers. MRI features were then correlated with histopathologic prognostic factors. The adjacent vessel sign was significantly (p=0.023 to p