PET/MRI in breast cancer

This review aims to evaluate the respective values of MRI and FDG PET and their combination as a single imaging device in detection, staging, treatment selection, response evaluation, recurrence detection and restaging in breast cancer patients. A comprehensive literature search in the PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase and Scopus databases was performed including articles up to February 2016, resulting in the selection of 57 articles. The combination of PET and MRI in a single imaging device could provide synergistic diagnostic value and logistical benefit for patients. However, currently there are insufficient data to identify situations where PET/MRI would provide sufficient clinical benefit to justify its application. In addition, current generation equipment is hampered by technical challenges. Adequate acquisitions of PET and MRI require the current issues with prone position imaging and signal quantification in PET/MRI to be resolved. It is advised to perform integrated PET/MRI for primary breast tumours within the scope of clinical trials. It is expected that the technical issues of PET/MRI will be resolved, and that this promising imaging combined modality will have a significant benefit for patients with breast cancer, at least for selected subgroups.