A method for limiting pitfalls in the production of enhancement kinetic curves in 3T dynamic magnetic resonance mammography

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the present study is to investigate means for the reduction or even elimination of enhancement kinetic curve errors due to breast motion in order to avoid pitfalls and to increase the sensitivity and specificity of the method. Methods: 115 women underwent breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). All patients were properly immobilized in a dedicated bilateral phased array coil. A magnetic resonance unit 3-Tesla (Signa, GE Healthcare) was used. The following sequences were applied: (I) axial T2-TSE, (II) axial STIR and (III) Vibrant axial T1-weighted fat saturation (six phases). Kinetic curves were derived semi-automatically using the software of the system and manually by positioning the regions of interest (ROI) from stable reference points in all the phases. Results: 376 abnormalities in 115 patients were investigated. In 81 (21.5%) cases, a change of the enhancement kinetic curve type was found when the two different methods were used. In cases of large fatty breasts, a change of the enhancement kinetic curve type in 13 lesions was found. In cases of small and dense breasts, only in 4 lesions the kinetic curve type changed, whereas in cases of small and fatty breasts, the kinetic curve type changed in 64 lesions (50 were observed in left breasts and 14 in right breasts). Conclusions: The derivation of enhancement kinetic curves should be performed by controlling and verifying that the ROIs lay at the same location of the lesion in all the phases of the dynamic study.