Breast magnetic resonance imaging technique at 1.5 T and 3 T: requirements for quality imaging and American College of Radiology accreditation

Wendy B DeMartini; Habib Rahbar

doi:10.1016/j.mric.2013.04.004

Breast magnetic resonance imaging technique at 1.5 T and 3 T: requirements for quality imaging and American College of Radiology accreditation

Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am. 2013 Aug;21(3):475-82. doi: 10.1016/j.mric.2013.04.004.

Authors

Wendy B DeMartini¹, Habib Rahbar

Affiliation

¹ Department of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine and the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Seattle, WA 98109-1023, USA. [email protected]

PMID: 23928238
DOI: 10.1016/j.mric.2013.04.004

Abstract

Although there are multiple variations in acquisition protocols for breast magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, there is agreement that components of high-quality technique include a bilateral acquisition obtained with a dedicated breast coil. Further, key pulse sequences should be included and spatial and temporal resolution should be sufficiently high to assess lesion morphology and kinetics. Artifacts must be recognized and avoided. The American College of Radiology Breast MRI Accreditation Program requirements provide minimum standards to guide facilities in technique. MR imaging at 3 T is increasingly available and offers signal-to-noise ratio advantages over 1.5 T but also some technical challenges.

Keywords: 1.5 T; 3 T; ACR accreditation; Breast MRI; Technique.

MeSH terms

Accreditation / standards*
Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
Female
Humans
Image Enhancement / standards*
Magnetic Resonance Imaging / standards*
Medical Oncology / instrumentation*
Medical Oncology / standards*
Practice Guidelines as Topic
Quality Assurance, Health Care / standards*
United States