title: Quantitative multivoxel proton chemical shift imaging of the breast.
abstract: The study of focal pathology by single-voxel magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is hampered by the impossibility to study tissue heterogeneity or compare the metabolite signals in breast lesion directly to those in unaffected tissue. Multivoxel MRS studies, while potentially allowing for truly quantitative tissue characterization, have up to now also been far from quantitative with, for example, the signal-to-noise ratio of the choline (Cho) signal serving as measure of tumor activity. Shown in this study is that in a standard clinical setting with a regular 1.5-T magnetic resonance scanner, it is possible to perform quantitative multivoxel MRS. With the use of literature values for the T1 and T2 relaxation times of Cho and water in fibroglandular breast tissue and tumors, one can determine the concentrations of Cho in different tumor compartments and surrounding tissues in two brief multivoxel MRS measurements. This opens excellent perspectives to quantitative diagnostic and follow-up studies of focal pathology such as lesions suspected of breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Radiology, University Medical Center Groningen and University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Paul E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Sijens
authors.forename: Monique D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Dorrius
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kappert
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Baron
authors.forename: Ruud M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Pijnappel
authors.forename: Matthijs
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oudkerk
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001940:Breast / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002794:Choline / Q000032:analysis*; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011522:Protons; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D011522:Protons; D002794:Choline