Contrast kinetics of the malignant breast tumour--border versus centre enhancement on dynamic midfield MRI.
OBJECTIVE
To quantify the border versus centre enhancement of malignant breast tumours on dynamic magnetic resonance mammography.


METHODS
Fifty-two women diagnosed with primary breast cancer underwent dynamic magnetic resonance mammography (Omniscan 0.2 mmol/kg bodyweight) on a midfield scanner (0.6 T), prior to surgery. The following five variables were recorded from the border and centre regions of the tumours: Early Enhancement, Time to Peak, Wash-in rate, Wash-out rate and Area under Curve. Information on histology type, oestrogen and progesterone receptor status was collected. Statistical analysis was performed in SAS 9.1 as paired samples t-tests.


RESULTS
Fifty of 52 malignant tumours displayed a faster Early Enhancement in the border region compared to the centre (p<0.0001). Significant differences between the border and centre values were found for Time to Peak, Wash-in rate, Wash-out rate and Area under Curve. Hormone receptor positive tumours displayed an over-all highly significant difference between border and centre enhancement, whereas no significant differences for any of the five variables were recorded in neither oestrogen nor progesterone hormone receptor negative tumours.


CONCLUSIONS
The border/centre enhancement difference in malignant breast tumours is easily visualized on midfield dynamic magnetic resonance mammography. The dynamic behaviour is significantly correlated to histological features and receptor status of the tumours.
Marklund
Mette
M
The Parker Institute, Frederiksberg Hospital, Ndr. Fasanvej 57-59, DK-2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark. mm@frh.regionh.dk
Torp-Pedersen
Søren
S
Bentzon
Niels
N
Thomsen
Carsten
C
Roslind
Anne
A
Nolsøe
Christian P
CP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D003287:Contrast Media; C064925:gadodiamide; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA