title: Correlation of high-resolution breast MR imaging with histopathology; validation of a technique.
abstract: A high-resolution three-dimensional surface gradient coil set was used to obtain magnetic resonance (MR) images of breast specimens, using a gradient-echo pulse sequence (TR/TE 1000/8 msec, flip angle 75 degrees), with 117 micrometer in-plane resolution and 1 mm slice thickness. Breast tissues were obtained from one autopsy and three surgical specimens. High-resolution breast MR images and histopathology sections (7 micrometer thickness) were acquired in the same anatomical plane. Radiographs were acquired of the sliced specimens (approximately 5 mm thick) so that images from all three methods could be correlated. It was found that in vitro high-resolution breast MRI correlated well with low-resolution microscopic histology, demonstrating normal anatomy (lobules, ducts, connective tissue strands, blood vessels) and pathology (tumor content, margins, and presence of microcalcifications) of the breast more clearly than conventional pre-gadolinium breast MRI. High-resolution breast MRI may improve specificity, when added to a conventional breast MRI protocol.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospital Nijmegen, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands. agnes_holland@hotmail.com
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Holland
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Hendrick
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Russ
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Barentsz
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Holland
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D046508:Culture Techniques; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity