PLoS ONE (Jan 2014)

Breast density assessment using a 3T MRI system: comparison among different sequences.

  • Alberto Tagliafico,
  • Bianca Bignotti,
  • Giulio Tagliafico,
  • Davide Astengo,
  • Lucia Martino,
  • Sonia Airaldi,
  • Alessio Signori,
  • Maria Pia Sormani,
  • Nehmat Houssami,
  • Massimo Calabrese

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0099027
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 6
p. e99027

Abstract

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PURPOSE: To compare MRI sequences for breast density measurements on a 3T MRI system using IDEAL (Iterative Decomposition of water and fat with Echo Asymmetry and Least squares estimation) as possible physiology-like reference. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MRI examination was performed in 48 consecutive patients (mean age 41, years; range, 35-67 years) on a 3.0T scanner and 46 were included. All (fertile) women, were examined between days 5 and 15 of their menstrual cycle. MRI protocol included: T1-turbo spin-echo (T1-tSE), T2-turbo spin-echo (T2-tSE), VIBRANT (Volume Imaging for Breast Assessment) before and after injection of contrast media and IDEAL. Breast density was calculated with semi-automated software. Statistical analysis was performed with non-parametric tests. RESULTS: Mean percentage of breast density calculated in each sequence was: T1-tSE = 56%; T2-tSE = 52%; IDEAL FatOnly = 55%; IDEAL WaterOnly = 53%, VIBRANT = 55%. Significant differences were observed between T2-tSE and both T1-tSE (p<0.001), VIBRANT sequences (p = 0.009), T1-tSE and both IDEAL WaterOnly (p = 0.007) and IDEAL FatOnly (p = 0.047). Breast density percentage showed a positive linear correlation among different sequences: r ≥ 0.93. CONCLUSIONS: Differences exist between MRI sequences used to assess breast density percentage. T1-weighted sequences values were similar to IDEAL sequences.