title: 7 T versus 3T contrast-enhanced breast magnetic resonance imaging of invasive ductulolobular carcinoma: first clinical experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Here we describe our first experience with contrast-enhanced (CE) MRI of breast cancer at 7 tesla (T), compared to 3T and histopathology.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 52 year old female patient with a mammographically suspicious breast mass (BI-RADS V) underwent 7 T CE-MRI. Results were described according to the BI-RADS-MRI criteria and compared to 3T and histopathology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After contrast administration, a homogeneously enhancing, irregular spiculated mass was depicted at both 3T and 7 T; sizes were identical. The most malignant kinetic curve was characterized by a rapid initial rise followed by a wash-out pattern in the delayed phase, i.e. a type 3 curve, at both field strengths. Even though T1-effects of contrast agents are suggested to be reduced at higher fields, quantification of contrast enhancement-to-noise ratio showed a ratio of 4.6 at 7 T and 2.8 at 3T when comparing contrast-to-noise of the mass before and after contrast administration. Both examinations, using a single dose of gadolinium-based contrast agent, achieved good image quality. Final histopathological evaluation showed an invasive ductulolobular carcinoma with an intraductal component.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This initial experience suggests that clinical contrast-enhanced 7 T MRI of the breast is technically feasible and may allow BI-RADS-conform analysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands. b.l.stehouwer@umcutrecht.nl
authors.forename: Bertine L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Stehouwer
authors.forename: Dennis W J
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Klomp
authors.forename: Mies A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Korteweg
authors.forename: Helena M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Verkooijen
authors.forename: Peter R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Luijten
authors.forename: Willem P Th M
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Mali
authors.forename: Maurice A A J
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: van den Bosch
authors.forename: Wouter B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Veldhuis
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000473:pathology*; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity