In vivo MR spectroscopy of human breast tissue: quantification of fatty acid composition at a clinical field strength (3 T)

MAGMA. 2016 Feb;29(1):1-4. doi: 10.1007/s10334-015-0506-3. Epub 2016 Jan 2.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of in vivo measurement of the fatty acid (FA) composition of breast adipose tissue by MRS on a clinical platform.

Material and methods: MRS experiments were performed at 3 T, using a STEAM sequence, on 25 patients diagnosed with breast cancer. MR spectra, acquired on healthy breast tissue, were analysed with the LCModel.

Results: The measured values of the saturated fatty acid (SFA), mono-unsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) and poly-unsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) fractions were 23.8 ± 7.1%, 55.4 ± 6.8% and 20.8 ± 4.4%, respectively. The values of SFA, MUFA and PUFA observed in the current study are in the same range as those found in two previous studies performed at 7 T.

Conclusion: The results of the current study show that it is possible to quantify the fatty acid composition of breast tissue in vivo in a clinical setting (3 T).

Keywords: Breast cancer; Fatty acid; MRS; Quantification.

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue / chemistry
  • Aged
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / chemistry
  • Breast / chemistry
  • Breast / diagnostic imaging*
  • Breast / pathology
  • Fatty Acids / chemistry*
  • Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / chemistry
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / chemistry
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy*
  • Middle Aged
  • Software

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Fatty Acids
  • Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated