Pilot study of improved lesion characterization in breast MRI using a 3D radial balanced SSFP technique with isotropic resolution and efficient fat-water separation.
OBJECTIVE
To assess a 3D radial balanced steady-state free precession (SSFP) technique that provides submillimeter isotropic resolution and inherently registered fat and water image volumes in comparison to conventional T2-weighted RARE imaging for lesion characterization in breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).


METHODS
3D projection SSFP (3DPR-SSFP) combines a dual half-echo radial k-space trajectory with a linear combination fat/water separation technique (linear combination SSFP). A pilot study was performed in 20 patients to assess fat suppression and depiction of lesion morphology using 3DPR-SSFP. For all patients fat suppression was measured for the 3DPR-SSFP image volumes and depiction of lesion morphology was compared against corresponding T2-weighted fast spin echo (FSE) datasets for 15 lesions in 11 patients.


RESULTS
The isotropic 0.63 mm resolution of the 3DPR-SSFP sequence demonstrated improved depiction of lesion morphology in comparison to FSE. The 3DPR-SSFP fat and water datasets were available in a 5-minute scan time while average fat suppression with 3DPR-SSFP was 71% across all 20 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
3DPR-SSFP has the potential to improve the lesion characterization information available in breast MRI, particularly in comparison to conventional FSE. A larger study is warranted to quantify the effect of 3DPR-SSFP on specificity.
Moran
Catherine J
CJ
Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA. cjmoran@wisc.edu
Kelcz
Frederick
F
Jung
Youngkyoo
Y
Brodsky
Ethan K
EK
Fain
Sean B
SB
Block
Walter F
WF
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D000273:Adipose Tissue; D001834:Body Water; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology; D047688:Breast Cyst / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D018226:Fibroadenoma / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects