Improved visualization of breast lesions with gadolinium-enhanced magnetization transfer MR imaging.

Abstract

A pulse sequence with magnetization transfer as the main contrast mechanism (MT-FLASH) was developed for improved imaging of breast lesions that requires neither fat suppression nor postprocessing. After optimization of the sequence in phantom and volunteer studies, a clinical pilot study with 14 patients was performed. In carcinomas the relative signal increase after Gd-DTPA administration was on average 34% in MT-FLASH images compared with 169% in conventional T1-weighted (T1W) three-dimensional FLASH images. In MT-FLASH images, all lesions demonstrated a signal intensity higher than that of fat; in T1W images, all lesions have a lower signal intensity. The average postcontrast carcinoma-to-fat contrast-to-noise ratios were +11.6 and -14.2, respectively. The conspicuity of 12 of 13 carcinomas was improved in postcontrast MT-FLASH imaging enables excellent visualization of Gd-DTPA-enhancing breast lesions.

• Authors: W G Schreiber, G Brix, M V Knopp, T Hess, W J Lorenz
• Journal: Magnetic resonance in medicine (Magn Reson Med) Vol. 35 Issue 6 Pg. 861-9 (Jun 1996) ISSN: 0740-3194 [Print] United States
• PMID: 8744014 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Contrast Media
• Organometallic Compounds
• Pentetic Acid
• Gadolinium DTPA

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Breast (anatomy & histology, pathology)
• Breast Neoplasms (diagnosis)
• Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast (diagnosis)
• Contrast Media
• Female
• Fibrocystic Breast Disease (diagnosis)
• Gadolinium DTPA
• Humans
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (methods)
• Middle Aged
• Organometallic Compounds
• Pentetic Acid (analogs & derivatives)
• Phantoms, Imaging
• Pilot Projects