Preoperative DBT-based radiomics for predicting axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer: a multi-center study.

backgroundIn the prognosis of breast cancer, the status of axillary lymph nodes (ALN) is critically important. While traditional axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) provides comprehensive information, it is associated with high risks. Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLND), as an alternative, is less invasive but still poses a risk of overtreatment. In recent years, digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) technology has emerged as a new precise diagnostic tool for breast cancer, leveraging its high detection capability for lesions obscured by dense glandular tissue. PURPOSE: This multi-center study evaluates the feasibility of preoperative DBT-based radiomics, using tumor and peritumoral features, to predict ALN metastasis in breast cancer.

methodsWe retrospectively collected DBT imaging data from 536 preoperative breast cancer patients across two centers. Specifically, 390 cases were from one Hospital, and 146 cases were from another Hospital. These data were assigned to internal training and external validation sets, respectively. We performed 3D region of interest (ROI) delineation on the cranio-caudal (CC) and mediolateral oblique (MLO) views of DBT images and extracted radiomic features. Using methods such as analysis of variance (ANOVA) and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), we selected radiomic features extracted from the tumor and its surrounding 3 mm, 5 mm, and 10 mm regions, and constructed a radiomic feature set. We then developed a combined model that includes the optimal radiomic features and clinical pathological factors. The performance of the combined model was evaluated using the area under the curve (AUC), and it was directly compared with the diagnostic results of radiologists.

resultsThe results showed that the AUC of the radiomic features from the surrounding regions of the tumor were generally lower than those from the tumor itself. Among them, the Signature

conclusionsRadiomics based on DBT imaging of the tumor and surrounding regions can provide a non-invasive auxiliary tool to guide treatment strategies for ALN metastasis in breast cancer. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.