Supine breast MRI

Purpose:

To achieve high‐quality unilateral supine breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a step to facilitate image aiding of clinical applications, which are often performed in the supine position. Contrast‐enhanced breast MRI is a powerful tool for the diagnosis of cancer. However, prone patient positioning typically used for breast MRI hinders its use for image aiding.

Materials and Methods:

A fixture and a flexible four‐element receive coil were designed for patient‐specific shaping and placement of the coil in close conformity to the supine breast. A 3D spoiled gradient sequence was modified to incorporate compensation of respiratory motion. The entire setup was tested in volunteer experiments and in a pilot patient study.

Results:

The flexible coil design and the motion compensation produced supine breast MR images of high diagnostic value. Variations in breast shape and in tissue morphology within the breast were observed between a supine and a diagnostic prone MRI of a patient.

Conclusion:

The presented supine breast MRI achieved an image quality comparable to diagnostic breast MRI. Since supine positioning is common in many clinical applications such as ultrasound‐guided breast biopsy or breast‐conserving surgery, the registration of the supine images will aid these applications. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2011;. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Fat necrosis of breast: a potential pitfall in breast MRI

Fat necrosis is a benign nonsuppurative inflammatory process of adipose tissue. Occasionally fat necrosis may mimic a breast cancer clinically, mammographically, and sonographically. There have been some previous reports on the MR imaging of the fat necrosis. In some MR findings of fat necrosis, it was difficult to distinguish it from malignant lesions. We report a case of fat necrosis presenting the irregular enhancement with the non-enhancing area of central areas on MRI.     

MRI of the breast

MRI of the breast is rapidly evolving as a sensitive technique for the detection and staging of breast cancer. It has considerable benefits but is time consuming and expensive. The benefits and limitations of this technique are presented.     

Pitfalls of breast MRI

This article reviews some of the common pitfalls associated with breast MRI. Pitfalls can be broadly considered as "technical" (relating to patient factors or machine factors, which can influence image interpretation) or "non-technical" (relating to misinterpretation of imaging findings in the absence of technical problems). Awareness of potential pitfalls is important if MRI is to maximize its potential in breast imaging.     

MRI of breast tumors

Breast MRI is increasingly used as an adjunct to conventional imaging modalities, particularly in diagnostic problem cases, but also for pre-operative staging. It is an extremely sensitive technique, with relatively limited specificity. To avoid both, false-positive, but particularly false-negative diagnoses, it is imperative to be familiar with the varying MRI appearance of benign and malignant breast tumors. This review serves to give an overview of the different criteria that can be used for differential diagnostic purposes. Moreover, practical guidelines are given to help with the adequate management of enhancing lesions.     

MRI breast screening revisited

Contrast‐enhanced breast MRI is a standard evidence‐based component of supplemental screening in conjunction with mammography for higher‐risk populations because of its high sensitivity for detecting breast cancer; the use of breast MRI for screening in high‐risk populations is recommended in multiple national and international guidelines. The current MRI exam, however, is expensive relative to other screening technologies such as mammography, and relatively more time‐intensive. Recent investigations have focused on techniques that have the potential for improving efficiency of the breast MRI exam, decreasing acquisition and reading times, without impacting diagnostic accuracy. The purpose of this article is therefore to provide an overview of current MRI guidelines for screening for breast cancer and to discuss evolving technological approaches to breast MRI, in particular abbreviated and ultrafast MRI protocols, as well as MRI protocols without contrast that have the potential to improve MRI screening. Level of Evidence: 5 Technical Efficacy Stage: 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019;49:1212–1221.     

MRI of occult breast carcinoma in a high-risk population

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of cancer and the positive predictive value of biopsy in the first screening round of breast MRI in women at high risk of developing breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective review was performed of the records of 367 consecutive women at high risk of developing breast cancer who had normal findings on mammography and their first breast MRI screening examination during a 2-year period. The frequency of recommending biopsy at the first screening MRI study and the biopsy results were reviewed. RESULTS: Biopsy was recommended in 64 women (17%). Biopsy revealed cancer that was occult on mammography and physical examination in 14 (24%) of 59 women who had biopsy and in 14 (4%) of 367 women who underwent breast MRI screening. Histologic findings in 14 women with cancer were ductal carcinoma in situ in eight (57%) and infiltrating carcinoma in six (43%). The median size of infiltrating carcinoma was 0.4 cm (range, 0.1-1.2 cm). Two patients had nodes that were positive for cancer. Biopsy revealed high-risk lesions (atypical ductal hyperplasia, atypical lobular hyperplasia, lobular carcinoma in situ, or radial scar) in 13 (4%) of 367 women and other benign findings in 32 (9%) of 367 women who had MRI screening. CONCLUSION: Among women at high risk of developing breast cancer, breast MRI led to a recommendation of biopsy in 17%. Cancer was found in 24% of women who underwent biopsy and in 4% of women who had breast MRI screening. More than half the MRI-detected cancers were ductal carcinoma in situ.     

Extra-mammary findings in breast MRI

Objectives  

Incidental extra-mammary findings in breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) may be benign in nature, but may also represent a metastasis or another important lesion. We aimed to analyse the prevalence and clinical relevance of these unexpected findings.     

Gadolinium-enhanced MRI of breast hamartoma

Hamartoma of the breast is a relatively rare, well-circumscribed benign breast tumour that lacks a true capsule, and is composed primarily of dense, fibrous tissue with associated ducts and a variable amount of fat. A typical mammographic finding is a well-delineated, non-homogeneous mass containing mottled densities corresponding to fat, epithelium and connective tissue. Ultrasonographically, hamartoma has a well-circumscribed heterogeneous internal echo pattern corresponding to areas of fat and soft tissue components. This is the first original paper to describe the MRI findings of hamartomas. Mammography and ultrasonography usually enable a diagnosis of hamartoma; however, gadolinium-DTPA enhanced dynamic MRI is the only method in the preoperative management of atypical hamartomas that allows the exclusion of malignancy elsewhere in the breast and hamartoma. Correspondence to: K. K. Oh     

乳腺MRI检查中的乳腺外病变

目的乳腺MRI检查中的乳腺外偶发病变在本质上可能是良性,但可能也是转移或其他重要病变。本研究的目的是探讨这些偶发病变的发生率与临床的相关性。     

Parametric analysis of breast MRI

Parametric analysis of breast MRI provides unique mapping of pathophysiological characteristics that cannot be obtained by standard conventional MRI. We describe in this review methods based on intrinsic contrast and tissue elasticity as well as methods that use external paramagnetic contrast agents and follow the time evolution of contrast. Processing of the raw data, frequently with new mathematical models and algorithms, yielded calculated parametric images that may help improve the noninvasive detection and diagnosis of breast cancer.     

乳腺疾病的MRI研究进展

MRI具有极佳的软组织分辨率,近年来,该技术越来越广泛的应用于乳腺疾病的诊断.乳腺动态增强成像和灌注加权成像可从不同角度反映乳腺组织及病灶的血供灌注情况,弥散加权成像和磁共振波谱分析则从分子水平提供乳腺病变组织信息,磁共振乳腺导管成像为导管内病变提供了新的影像诊断方法.随着MRI技术的成熟、软硬件的迅速发展,MRI在乳腺疾病的检出和诊断方面显示出其独到的优势.     

Challenges to interpretation of breast MRI

This review describes the current knowledge and challenges of lesion interpretation with MRI of the breast according to different image interpretation strategies. Particular emphasis is given to patient- and tumor-related factors that influence image interpretation. The impacts of the menstrual cycle, prior surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy are summarized. Particular enhancement features of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or invasive lobular carcinoma are described. Finally, an adequate diagnosis at MRI of the breast should take into account the results of the patient's history, physical examination, and all imaging tests performed before MRI. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2001;13:821-829.     

Pearls and pitfalls in breast MRI

At our academic institution, we have noticed repeated examples of both false-positive and false-negative MR diagnoses in breast cancer. The most common diagnostic errors in interpreting MRI of the breast are discussed in this review and experience-based advice is provided to avoid similar mistakes. The most common reasons for false-positive diagnoses are misinterpretation of artefacts, confusion between normal enhancing structures and tumours and, above all, insufficient use of the American College of Radiology breast imaging reporting and data system lexicon, whereas false-negative diagnoses are made as a result of missed tiny enhancement, a background-enhancing breast, or enhancement interpreted as benign rather than malignant.     

乳腺疾病的MRI诊断

目的：探讨乳腺疾病的MRI平扫与增强扫描的影像特点。方法：收集乳腺疾病33例，其中乳腺癌12例，良性病变18例，隆乳术后患者3例，均行MRI扫描，22例同时进行钼靶摄影。结果：①乳腺癌MRI表现为：形态不规则结节或肿块，边缘分叶或毛刺，增强扫描多呈不均匀强化，毛刺样结构显示更清晰。②良性病变：纤维腺瘤病灶呈圆形或类圆形，边缘光滑，无毛刺样结构，增强后均匀强化；乳腺增生表现为乳腺腺体增厚，形态规则。③MRI与钼靶结果比较，MRI在发现病灶，了解病变范围以及显示淋巴结转移方面优于钼靶。结论：MRI是评价乳腺疾病的一种有效的影像学方法。     

Short first-pass MRI of the breast

To reduce examination time and costs, a new concept for MRI of the breast is presented. This short first-pass MRI takes 4-5 minutes and could be applied to approximately three-quarters of all women.