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Updated: Oct 1, 2026
Tracking the Mammary Architectural Features and Detecting Breast Cancer with Magnetic Resonance Diffusion Tensor Imaging
Published on: December 15, 2014
Contrast-enhanced high in-plane resolution dynamic MRI of the breast. Are there advantages in comparison to standard
Silvia Obenauer1, Corinna Schorn, Bruno Stelter
1Department of Radiology, Georg-August-University of Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Strasse 40, Germany. soben@med.uni-göttingen.de
Objective:
To evaluate the diagnostic advantages of high in-plane resolution contrast-enhanced (CE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the breast in comparison to standard CE-MRI.
Methods:
Forty-one patients with 51 hypervascularized lesions were selected prospectively after undergoing bilateral standard CE MRI (slice thickness 4 mm, in-plane resolution 1.52 x 1.25 mm2, temporal resolution 81 s). Patients underwent high in-plane resolution CE MRI, either (n=21) a two-dimensional fast-low-angle-shot sequence (slice thickness 4 mm, in-plane resolution 0.76 x 0.63 mm2, temporal resolution 96 s) or (n=20) a SE sequence being used (slice thickness 4 mm, in-plane resolution 0.8 x 0.63 mm2, temporal resolution 115 s).
Results:
Histopathology revealed 33 malignant and 18 benign lesions (0.2-2.2 cm). Morphologic characteristics were much better visualized with high in-plane resolution. Additional diagnostic information, however, resulted only in one patient with fibroadenoma due to a better visualization of smooth contours.
Conclusions:
High in-plane resolution provides better visualization of morphologic patterns in comparison to standard dynamic MRI. However, a diagnostic advantage is only rare.
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Description of the Procedures
Computed Tomography (CT) scan:
Computed Tomography (CT) scans use X-ray technology to generate detailed images of bones, organs, and tissues. During the scan, the patient lies on a moving table...