7 T versus 3T contrast-enhanced breast magnetic resonance imaging of invasive ductulolobular carcinoma: first clinical experience

Purpose: Here we describe our first experience with contrast-enhanced (CE) MRI of breast cancer at 7 tesla (T), compared to 3T and histopathology.

Materials and methods: A 52 year old female patient with a mammographically suspicious breast mass (BI-RADS V) underwent 7 T CE-MRI. Results were described according to the BI-RADS-MRI criteria and compared to 3T and histopathology.

Results: After contrast administration, a homogeneously enhancing, irregular spiculated mass was depicted at both 3T and 7 T; sizes were identical. The most malignant kinetic curve was characterized by a rapid initial rise followed by a wash-out pattern in the delayed phase, i.e. a type 3 curve, at both field strengths. Even though T1-effects of contrast agents are suggested to be reduced at higher fields, quantification of contrast enhancement-to-noise ratio showed a ratio of 4.6 at 7 T and 2.8 at 3T when comparing contrast-to-noise of the mass before and after contrast administration. Both examinations, using a single dose of gadolinium-based contrast agent, achieved good image quality. Final histopathological evaluation showed an invasive ductulolobular carcinoma with an intraductal component.

Conclusion: This initial experience suggests that clinical contrast-enhanced 7 T MRI of the breast is technically feasible and may allow BI-RADS-conform analysis.