Precancerous Breast Changes in Women with BRCA Gene Identified Using MR Spectroscopy

A Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) technique found multiple distinct premalignant changes in the biochemistry of breast tissue of women at high risk of breast cancer. The same changes were not recorded by conventional contrast-enhanced imaging 3-T Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and Ultrasound.

The discovery was made in a study carried out by a multidisciplinary team, including radiologists, radiographers, an MR physicist, and chemists. The study was published online in the March issue of the journal Radiology.

The study compared 14 women carrying BRCA2 gene mutations and nine women with BRCA1 mutations, with 10 healthy women that had no family history of breast cancer in a control group. All women underwent 2-D Localized Correlated Spectroscopy (L-COSY), and contrast enhanced 3-T MRI and ultrasound.

MRI or ultrasound scans did not show any abnormalities in the high-risk group, while L-COSY MRS found statistically significant biochemical changes in women with BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations compared to controls.

Carolyn Mountford, MSc, D.Phil., from the University of Newcastle (Callaghan, Australia), said, “These changes appear to represent a series of early warning signs that may allow women to make informed decisions as to when and if they [should] have prophylactic mastectomy.”

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