[Three-dimentional volumetric interpolated breath-hold magnetic resonance imaging for the diagnosis of breast tumors].

PURPOSE: Three dimensional volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination magnetic resonance imaging(3D-VIBE MRI) has the advantage of improving z-axis resolution, which makes it possible to obtain high quality multi-planar reconstruction (MPR) and 3-D reconstruction images. Using these capabilities of 3D-VIBE MRI, we have attempted to diagnose and evaluate breast tumors for preoperative planning. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred patients with breast cancer and 5 patients with benign breast tumors were scanned by 1.5-T MR imaging, and the findings were compared with pathological findings. Triple-phase contrast-enhanced 3D-VIBE MRI was performed at 20 seconds (early arterial phase), 50 seconds (late arterial phase) and 180 seconds (equilibrium phase) after the beginning of injection of contrast material. Dynamic imaging was performed with 20 ml Gd-DOTA injected at a rate of 3.0 ml/sec. We also attempted to diagnose breast tumor for the detection of the primary lesion, estimation of histologic type, prediction of extensive intraductal components (EIC) and axillary lymph node metastases from breast cancer. RESULTS: (1) The diagnostic accuracy for breast cancer was 96.0% and it was 100.0% for benign disease. (2) The accuracy of the histologic estimation for breast cancer was 56.4%, and it was 83.3% for benign disease. (3) The accuracy of evaluation of ductal spread of breast cancer was 52.4%. (4) The accuracy was 72.4% for lymph node metastasis from breast cancer. CONCLUSION: This method provides useful information about the location of the primary tumor and lymph nodes. 3D-VIBE method is considered especially important for the preoperative evaluation of axillary lymph node status.