title: Supine breast MRI.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To achieve high-quality unilateral supine breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a step to facilitate image aiding of clinical applications, which are often performed in the supine position. Contrast-enhanced breast MRI is a powerful tool for the diagnosis of cancer. However, prone patient positioning typically used for breast MRI hinders its use for image aiding.
  
  
  METHODS
  A fixture and a flexible four-element receive coil were designed for patient-specific shaping and placement of the coil in close conformity to the supine breast. A 3D spoiled gradient sequence was modified to incorporate compensation of respiratory motion. The entire setup was tested in volunteer experiments and in a pilot patient study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The flexible coil design and the motion compensation produced supine breast MR images of high diagnostic value. Variations in breast shape and in tissue morphology within the breast were observed between a supine and a diagnostic prone MRI of a patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presented supine breast MRI achieved an image quality comparable to diagnostic breast MRI. Since supine positioning is common in many clinical applications such as ultrasound-guided breast biopsy or breast-conserving surgery, the registration of the supine images will aid these applications.
authors.affiliation: Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Division of Imaging Research, Toronto, ON, Canada. peter.siegler@hologic.com
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Siegler
authors.forename: Claire M B
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Holloway
authors.forename: Petrina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Causer
authors.forename: Gilbert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Thevathasan
authors.forename: Donald B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Plewes
mesh_terms: D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009038:Motion; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012119:Respiration; D016683:Supine Position
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media