Equivalent cross-relaxation rate imaging of breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether equivalent cross-relaxation rate (ECR) imaging is a feasible method for demonstrating breast cancer.


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.


CONCLUSIONS
ECR imaging is a feasible imaging technique for demonstrating breast cancer.
Yuen
Sachiko
S
Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan. s.yuen@scchr.jp
Yamada
Kei
K
Kinosada
Yasutomi
Y
Matsushima
Shigeru
S
Nakano
Yasuhiko
Y
Goto
Mariko
M
Nishimura
Tsunehiko
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D013382:Subtraction Technique