Diagnostic accuracy of modern imaging following neoadjuvant therapy for breast cancer: a comparative analysis of ultrasound versus [18F] FDG PET/MRI in breast response assessment - Report - MDSpire

Diagnostic accuracy of modern imaging following neoadjuvant therapy for breast cancer: a comparative analysis of ultrasound versus [18F] FDG PET/MRI in breast response assessment

  • By

  • Rosa Di Micco

  • Selin Saracoglu

  • André Pfob

  • Carla Canevari

  • Francesca Gallivanone

  • Lidija Antunovic

  • Fabrizia Gelardi

  • Paola Scifo

  • Ilaria Neri

  • Claudio Losio

  • Elena Venturini

  • Giovanna Della Vecchia

  • Goffredo Ferrarese

  • Nicole Rotmensz

  • Veronica Zuber

  • Sara Baleri

  • Giovanni Cisternino

  • Silvia Paola Corona

  • Francesca Calabretto

  • Mario Rampa

  • Luca Licata

  • Giulia Viale

  • Stefania Zambelli

  • Isabella Sassi

  • Giampaolo Bianchini

  • Pietro Panizza

  • Arturo Chiti

  • Joerg Heil

  • Oreste Davide Gentilini

  • June 18, 2026

  • 0 min

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Clinical Report: Evaluating the Diagnostic Performance of Ultrasound versus [18F] FDG PET/MRI for Assessing Breast Cancer Response After Neoadjuvant Therapy

Overview

This study compares the diagnostic performance of ultrasound and [18F]FDG PET/MRI in predicting pathological complete response (pCR) in breast cancer after neoadjuvant therapy.

Background

Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among women and a leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Accurately predicting pCR after primary systemic therapy is crucial for guiding treatment decisions. Current imaging modalities, including ultrasound and [18F]FDG PET/MRI, are essential for evaluating therapeutic responses.

Data Highlights

ModalitySensitivitySpecificity
[18F]FDG PET/MRI62% (95% CI 42%-81%)67% (95% CI 46%-83%)
Ultrasound59% (95% CI 44%-73%)62% (95% CI 46%-77%)

Key Findings

  • [18F]FDG PET/MRI sensitivity was 62% and specificity was 67% for detecting breast response to PST.
  • Ultrasound sensitivity was 59% and specificity was 62% in the same context.
  • No significant difference was found between [18F]FDG PET/MRI and ultrasound in sensitivity (p=0.93) and specificity (p=0.94).
  • Subgroup analysis indicated ultrasound sensitivity of 73% in triple-negative tumors and 50% in HER2-positive tumors.
  • [18F]FDG PET/MRI showed a sensitivity of 77% in Luminal B cancers.

Clinical Implications

Both ultrasound and [18F]FDG PET/MRI provide diagnostic accuracy for assessing pCR in breast cancer post-neoadjuvant therapy.

Conclusion

The study presents findings on the effectiveness of ultrasound and [18F]FDG PET/MRI in evaluating breast cancer response to neoadjuvant therapy.

Related Resources & Content

  1. European Radiology, 2023 -- Developing an Efficient PET/MRI Imaging Protocol for Breast Cancer: Enhancing Diagnostic Accuracy While Shortening Acquisition Times
  2. European Radiology, 2022 -- Role of Dual-Tracer PET/CT with [68Ga]FAPI-04 and [18F]FDG in the Initial Assessment of Gastric Cancer
  3. Frontiers in Oncology, 2026 -- 18F-FDG PET/CT for Predicting Major Pathological Response to Neoadjuvant Therapy in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Meta-Analysis
  4. Assessing Treatment Outcomes and Prognosis in Rectal Cancer, 2024 -- Findings from 18 FDG-PET/MRI Evaluations Following Neoadjuvant Therapy
  5. The role of 18F-FDG PET/MRI in assessing pathological complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis, 2024
  6. Pathologic complete response and breast cancer survival post-neoadjuvant chemotherapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis of real-world data, 2025
  7. ACR Appropriateness Criteria
  8. The role of 18F-FDG PET/MRI in assessing pathological complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis | Radiation Oncology | Springer Nature Link
  9. Pathologic complete response and breast cancer survival post-neoadjuvant chemotherapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis of real-world data - ScienceDirect

Original Source(s)

Diagnostic accuracy of modern imaging following neoadjuvant therapy for breast cancer: a comparative analysis of ultrasound versus [18F] FDG PET/MRI in breast response assessment

  • by Rosa Di Micco, Selin Saracoglu, André Pfob, Carla Canevari, Francesca Gallivanone, Lidija Antunovic, Fabrizia Gelardi, Paola Scifo, Ilaria Neri, Claudio Losio, Elena Venturini, Giovanna Della Vecchia, Goffredo Ferrarese, Nicole Rotmensz, Veronica Zuber, Sara Baleri, Giovanni Cisternino, Silvia Paola Corona, Francesca Calabretto, Mario Rampa, Luca Licata, Giulia Viale, Stefania Zambelli, Isabella Sassi, Giampaolo Bianchini, Pietro Panizza, Arturo Chiti, Joerg Heil, Oreste Davide Gentilini

  • June 18, 2026

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