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Equivalent cross‐relaxation rate imaging of breast cancer
Author(s) -
Yuen Sachiko,
Yamada Kei,
Kinosada Yasutomi,
Matsushima Shigeru,
Nakano Yasuhiko,
Goto Mariko,
Nishimura Tsunehiko
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of magnetic resonance imaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.563
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1522-2586
pISSN - 1053-1807
DOI - 10.1002/jmri.20088
Subject(s) - magnetic resonance imaging , hyperintensity , breast cancer , subtraction , medicine , nuclear medicine , gadolinium , radiology , cancer , materials science , mathematics , arithmetic , metallurgy
Purpose To determine whether equivalent cross‐relaxation rate (ECR) imaging is a feasible method for demonstrating breast cancer. Materials and Methods Fifteen breast cancer patients underwent both ECR imaging, with off‐resonance saturation pulses at frequency offsets of 7 and 19 ppm (ECR‐7 and ECR‐19, respectively) from water resonance, and gadolinium (Gd)‐enhanced dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the breast. The mean tumor size was 26.5 mm. The tumor outlines defined by their shape and margin on ECR‐7 images were compared with the subtraction images produced by the dynamic study, and the distribution of hyperintensity areas and their shapes on ECR‐19 images were assessed. All patients had surgery and pathological findings were compared to ECR images. Results The tumor outline of 13/15 (87%) tumors on ECR‐7 images was nearly identical to that on subtraction images; ECR‐19 images demonstrated the location and degree of fibrosis. The tumor outline of the other two tumors was less clear on ECR‐7 images, and internal hyperintensity on ECR‐19 images reflected intratumoral fibrotic foci. ECR‐7 and ‐19 imaging findings allowed identification of four distinct tumor types that reflected the tumor growth patterns and their internal structures associated with fibrosis. Conclusion ECR imaging is a feasible imaging technique for demonstrating breast cancer. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2004;20:56–65. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.