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

Magn Reson Med. 1996 Jun;35(6):861-9. doi: 10.1002/mrm.1910350612.

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Breast / anatomy & histology
  • Breast / 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

Substances

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