Assessing response to treatment in breast cancer using magnetic resonance.

Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging provides a range of powerful techniques for assessing breast cancer. Contrast enhanced MRI has been shown to provide a sensitive method for assessing primary breast cancer, with increasing emphasis on performing dynamic analysis, and using quantitative analysis techniques. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy provides information on tumour metabolism and has been investigated as a method of assessing response to therapy. The response of metastatic disease from bone cancer has been assessed using T1 weighted methods. MRI provides information on response to treatment early in the course of chemotherapy. Following chemotherapy it provides a sensitive method of assessing residual disease. Both, with conventional treatments and with new antiangiogenic, antivascular and cytostatic treatments, there is a growing role for functional methods of assessing tumour response to treatment.