COMPRESSION DEVICE TO REDUCE MOTION ARTIFACTS AT CONTRAST-ENHANCED MR-IMAGING IN THE BREAST

A prototype compression device for a bilateral breast surface coil was manufactured. It was tested in clinical practice (157 patients), and resultant images were compared with those obtained with simple ventral stuffing of the bottom of the coil (181 patients). Compression result ed in reduction of magnetic resonance (MR) examinations with severe mo tion artifacts from 20 (11%) of 181 examinations to three (2%) of 157 examinations (P = .001). Use of this compression device allowed the su btraction technique at MR imaging in the breast to become an effective method for ensuring more lesion conspicuity.