[MR mammography at 0.5 tesla. II. The capacity to differentiate malignant and benign lesions in MR mammography at 0.5 and 1.5 T].
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether medium field strength (0.5 T) MR mammography is able to differentiate between benign and malignant lesions in the same way as a 1.5 T standard technique.


METHODS
In 40 consecutive female patients with nodular lesions, examinations were carried out at 1.5 T (2D-FFE, TR/TE/FA 200/3.9/80) and 0.5 T (3D-FFE, 24/3.4/40).


RESULTS
There was wide spread of the speed of enhancement of malignant tumours for both techniques (44%-145% with signal increase in the first minute of 42%-189%). In 15 out of 17 carcinomas, the rapidity of uptake and final degree of enhancement after contrast was higher during 0.5 T/3D measurements than it was for 1.5 T/2D images. Fibroadenomas and mastopathies showed similar enhancement characteristics for both techniques. Sharply defined "wash-out" was seen only in malignant lesions; it appeared ten times more frequently in the 0.5 T/3D examinations than at 1.5 T/2D.


CONCLUSIONS
The distinction between benign and malignant lesions can be made with more certainty using medium field strength and 3D-FFE sequence than using the 2D high-field standard technique.
Kuhl
C K
CK
Radiologische Universitätsklinik, Rheinische Fredrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn.
Kreft
B P
BP
Hauswirth
A
A
Gieseke
J
J
Elevelt
A
A
Reiser
M
M
Schild
H H
HH
D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology*; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003287:Contrast Media; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D013997:Time Factors
D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D005682:Gadolinium; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA