Role of texture analysis in breast MRI as a cancer biomarker: A review

J Magn Reson Imaging. 2019 Apr;49(4):927-938. doi: 10.1002/jmri.26556. Epub 2018 Nov 3.

Abstract

Breast cancer is a known heterogeneous disease. Current clinically utilized histopathologic biomarkers may undersample tumor heterogeneity, resulting in higher rates of misdiagnosis for breast cancer. MRI can provide a whole-tumor sampling of disease burden and is widely utilized in clinical care. Texture analysis can provide a localized description of breast cancer, with particular emphasis on quantifying breast lesion heterogeneity. The object of this review is to provide an overview of texture analysis applications towards breast cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment response evaluation and review the role of image-based texture features as noninvasive prognostic and predictive biomarkers. Level of Evidence: 5 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019;49:927-938.

Keywords: breast cancer; image texture; imaging biomarkers; radiomics.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers / metabolism*
  • Breast / diagnostic imaging*
  • Breast Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Image Enhancement
  • Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
  • Models, Statistical
  • Pattern Recognition, Automated
  • Prognosis

Substances

  • Biomarkers