title: MRI-guided needle localization of suspicious breast lesions: results of a freehand technique.
abstract: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can detect clinically and mammographically occult breast lesions. In this study we report the results of MRI-guided needle localization of suspicious breast lesions by using a freehand technique. Preoperative MRI-guided single-needle localization was performed in 220 patients with 304 MRI-only breast lesions at our hospital between January 1997 and July 2004. Procedures were performed in an open 0.5-T Signa-SP imager allowing real-time monitoring, with patient in prone position, by using a dedicated breast coil. MRI-compatible hookwires were placed in a noncompressed breast by using a freehand technique. MRI findings were correlated with pathology and follow-up. MRI-guided needle localization was performed for a single lesion in 150 patients, for two lesions in 56 patients, and for three lesions in 14 patients. Histopathologic analysis of these 304 lesions showed 104 (34%) malignant lesions, 51 (17%) high-risk lesions, and 149 (49%) benign lesions. The overall lesion size ranged from 2.0-65.0 mm (mean 11.2 mm). No direct complications occurred. Follow-up MRI in 54 patients showed that two (3.7%) lesions were missed by surgical biopsy. MRI-guided freehand needle localization is accurate and allows localization of lesions anterior in the breast, the axillary region, and near the chest wall.
authors: Department of Radiology, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA 94305-5105, USA.
authors: M A A J
authors: MA
authors: van den Bosch
authors: B L
authors: BL
authors: Daniel
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Pal
authors: K W
authors: KW
authors: Nowels
authors: R L
authors: RL
authors: Birdwell
authors: S S
authors: SS
authors: Jeffrey
authors: D M
authors: DM
authors: Ikeda