Objective:

To observe the effect of unilateral breast cancer on bilateral internal thoracic artery (ITA) by using dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI.

Methods:

A total of 156 patients underwent dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI for the first time. The images of the arterial phase were selected and the average inner diameters of bilateral ITAs were measured and calculated.

Results:

There were 69 cases in the control group

44 cases in the right breast cancer group and 43 cases in the left breast cancer group. There was no significant difference in internal diameters of left and right ITAs in the control group. The diameters of left and right ITAs in the breast cancer group were significantly higher than those in the control group. No matter which side of the b

reast the lesions located

the diameter of right ITA was significantly increased than that of left ITA (

P

0.05).

Conclusion:

Unilateral breast cancer may lead to bilateral ITA expansion in different degrees. ITA and its branches may be the main supplying artery of breast cancer.