HALF-FOURIER, 3-DIMENSIONAL TECHNIQUE FOR DYNAMIC CONTRAST-ENHANCED MR-IMAGING OF BOTH BREASTS AND AXILLAE - INITIAL CHARACTERIZATION OF BREAST-LESIONS

PURPOSE: To evaluate the ability of asymmetric half-Fourier three-dime nsional (3D) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to characterize signal in tensity changes in breasts and axillae after contrast material injecti on and to compare the spatial resolution and measured signal intensity change of asymmetric and symmetric (keyhole) partial Fourier techniqu es. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Imaging was performed in 28 adult patients by collecting a single full-Fourier 3D data set with bolus injection o f contrast material during the last 10 seconds followed by collection of six half-Fourier 3D data sets without interimage delays. Postcontra st keyhole and half-Fourier images were formed from the same full-Four ier raw data set. RESULTS: The asymmetric half-Fourier 3D technique ma intained the spatial resolution and lesion signal intensity of the ful l-Fourier image, whereas the 50% keyhole method degraded the spatial r esolution by a factor of two and decreased the lesion signal intensity by 19% for a 2 x 2-pixel region of interest Histopathologic correlati on was attained in 32 lesions in 28 patients. Sensitivity was 100% (fi ve of five) and specificity was 89% (24 of 27). CONCLUSION: The asymme tric half-Fourier 3D MR imaging technique allows imaging of both breas ts and axillae without loss of lesion contrast or temporal resolution and provides the maximum spatial resolution and lesion signal intensit y attainable for the views sampled.