Fig. 1

Future perspective. Patients with histologically proven breast cancer without clinically suspicious lymph nodes are eligible for a pre-operative SPIO injection and MRI. In case of homogeneous iron distribution, the lymph nodes are not suspicious for metastases and no further axillary treatment is needed. In case of heterogeneous iron distribution, targeted axillar treatment can be performed depending on the number of suspicious lymph nodes (i.e. radiation therapy, systemic therapy or surgery.)