Characterization of mammary gland signal intensity by magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been introduced gradually to the Veterinary Diagnostic. In this research MRI was used for the study of mammary gland in healthy dogs, in T1 enhanced series of mammary gland and surrounding structures in twelve bitches. With the obtained images, tables of signal intensity (SI) by manual planimetry to observe the variation in grayscale in a same structure and take it as reference subsequently developed, addition to become acquainted with the software used. To validate the technique used in the images they were considered three structures (air, fat and muscle) which IS showed significant difference between glandular breast tissue (IS 184.8 ± 28.2) and regional lymph nodes (IS 51.3 ± 5,4), allowing to determine the benchmark for the study. It is concluded that the use of a low field equipment of MRI provides sufficient information for the mammary gland, ducts and regional lymph nodes study in dogs, making a complete anatomical evaluation and identification of such structures.

Keywords

• caninos
• glándula mamaria
• intensidad de señal
• imagen por resonancia magnética