CONTRAST-ENHANCED BREAST MRI FOR CANCER-DETECTION USING A COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE SYSTEM - A PERSPECTIVE

The diagnois and treatment of breast cancer are dependent upon early d etection of the disease by physical examination and mammography. Altho ugh mammography is a relatively good and cost-effective method of earl y breast cancer detection, there are some inherent weaknesses associat ed with this imaging modality that limit its sensitivity and specifici ty. Contrast-enhanced MRI of the breasts provides the additional capab ility to answer questions raised or unanswered with conventional imagi ng methods, This paper reviews contrast-enhanced breast MRI interpreta tion guidelines and patient preselection criteria for diagnostic probl em cases. Technical aspects using a commercially available three-dimen sional (3D) spoiled gradient-echo technique are discussed. (C) Elsevie r Science Inc., 1998.