Clinical Testing of High-Spatial-Resolution Parametric Contrast-Enhanced MR Imaging of the Breast

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
OBJECTIVE. We performed a prospective clinical test of a high-spatial-resolution model-based parametric method for diagnosis of breast lesions detected on contrast-enhanced MR imaging.SUBJECTS AND METHODS. Fifty-seven women with 68 pathologically confirmed breast lesions were imaged (45 masses, 23 microcalcifications). Seven consecutive 2-min three-dimensional gradient-recalled echo acquisitions were performed after suitably timed gadopentetate dimeglumine injections. We derived a composite parametric image from three judiciously selected time points (three-time-point method), using a model-based kinetic algorithm. In this composite image, color brightness and hue signify contrast uptake and washout characteristics related to the product of microvessel surface area and permeability, as well as to the extracellular volume fraction. The reviewer was provided with the slice location of lesions, but with no other radiographic or clinical information. The reviewer then classified the lesions as benign or malig...