PHARMACOKINETIC ANALYSIS OF GD-DTPA ENHAN CEMENT IN DYNAMIC MR OF BREAST-CARCINOMA

Dynamic Gd-DTPA enhanced MR of the breast was performed in one single slice in 27 patients with suspicious nodular lesions. The results coul d be histologically verified in all cases. A rapid spin-echo sequence with a time resolution of 8.75 s was used for the dynamic examination. The signal changes were analysed using a pharmacokinetic model which allowed parametrization of the contrast enhancement and transformation of the data into colour coded parameter images. The parameters allowe d reliable distinction of 9 benign from 18 malignant lesions (p < 0.05 for ''amplitude'', p < 0.001 for ''k21''). One fibroadenoma could not be distinguished from the carcinomas. Lymph node metastases and the p harmacokinetic parameter amplitude correlated significantly (p < 0.05) .