title: Breast neoplasms: T2* susceptibility-contrast, first-pass perfusion MR imaging.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the differentiation of benign from malignant breast tumors with T2*-weighted perfusion magnetic resonance (MR) imaging (blood volume imaging) versus that with dynamic T1-weighted contrast agent-enhanced MR imaging.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten healthy adult volunteers and 18 adult patients with benign or malignant lesions underwent both conventional T1-weighted dynamic contrast-enhanced breast MR imaging and repetitive first-pass, single-section, dynamic T2*-weighted perfusion MR imaging. Images were obtained before, during, and after injection of 20 mL of gadopentetate dimeglumine; peak gadopentetate dimeglumine concentrations were calculated from the maximal signal intensity loss on T2*-weighted images.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No perfusion effect was detectable in healthy breast parenchyma. A strong susceptibility-mediated signal intensity loss occurred in malignant breast tumors. No or only minor perfusion effects were seen in fibroadenomas, in spite of their rapid enhancement at T1-weighted dynamic imaging. Perfusion imaging was possible after conventional dynamic contrast-enhanced breast MR imaging.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  T2*-weighted perfusion imaging exploits the susceptibility-mediated signal intensity loss of a first-pass bolus of gadopentetate dimeglumine within the capillary bed. First-pass perfusion imaging of breast lesions is feasible. It is promising in the differentiation of benign from malignant, rapidly enhancing lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Kuhl
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bieling
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gieseke
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ebel
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mielcarek
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Far
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Folkers
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elevelt
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Schild
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003287:Contrast Media; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008536:Meglumine; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D008536:Meglumine; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA