FAST DYNAMIC MR-IMAGING FOR CHARACTERIZAT ION OF TUMOR - EXPERIENCES IN FUNCTIONAL MAMMOGRAPHY

Methods: MRI studies with high temporal resolution can be achieved wit h an optimized saturation recovery TurboFLASH sequence, which allows a more detailed characterization of contrast enhancement in tissue as i s available with the current FLASH 3D techniques. A two compartment mo del allows characterization of signal time curves with three parameter s, Amp (amplitude), k(21) (distribution rate constant) and k(el) (elim ination rate constant). Results: In a prospective study on 314 patient s with indetermined breast lesions signal-time-curves revealed differe nces in the k(21) parameter between benign (0.56+/-0.46) and malignant lesions (1.25+/-0.80) (p < 0.0001) as well as between different histo logical classifications. Conclusion: The introduced MR technique enabl es a better evaluation of the vascular permeability for the MR contras t media in lesions. Distinct differences were detected, which are infl uenced by elevated expression of angiogenesis factors such as the vasc ular endothelial growth factor.