Published in:
01-11-2013 | Breast
Dynamic contrast-enhanced and ultra-high-resolution breast MRI at 7.0 Tesla
Authors:
Bertine L. Stehouwer, Dennis W. J. Klomp, Maurice A. A. J. van den Bosch, Mies A. Korteweg, Kenneth G. A. Gilhuijs, Arjen J. Witkamp, Paul J. van Diest, Karel A. F. Houwert, Wybe J. M. van der Kemp, Peter R. Luijten, W. P. Th. M. Mali, Wouter B. Veldhuis
Published in:
European Radiology
|
Issue 11/2013
Login to get access
Abstract
Objective
To assess the feasibility of 7-T contrast-enhanced breast MRI in patients with suspicious masses.
Methods
Twenty patients with 23 suspicious breast masses on conventional imaging (mean size 13 mm, range 5–27 mm) were examined at 7 T. The MRI protocol included a dynamic series with injection of 0.1 mmol/kg gadobutrol (seven consecutive 3D T1-weighted gradient echo sequences, resolution 1 × 1 × 2 mm3, temporal resolution 63 s) and ultra-high-resolution imaging (T1-weighted 3D gradient echo sequence, resolution 0.45 × 0.57 × 0.45 mm3). Two observers (R1 and R2) independently judged the examinations on image quality and classified lesions according to BI-RADS. The added value of ultra-high-resolution imaging was assessed.
Results
The image quality was deemed excellent in 1 and 0, good in 10 and 12, sufficient in 8 and 8, and insufficient in 1 and 0 for R1 and R2 respectively. Twenty of the 23 lesions were identified at 7-T MRI by both observers. All histopathologically proven malignant lesions (n = 19) were identified and classified as BI-RADS-MRI 4 or 5. Ultra-high-resolution imaging increased reader confidence in 88 % (R1) and 59 % (R2) of acquisitions.
Conclusion
The study shows the feasibility of dynamic contrast-enhanced 7-T breast MRI, where all malignant mass lesions were identified by two observers.
Key Points
• Magnetic resonance imaging is important in the evaluation of breast cancer.
• Recently, 7-T MRI has become available.
• The 7-T dynamic contrast-enhanced breast MRI is feasible in patients.
• The 7-T breast examinations are amenable to evaluation according to BI-RADS.