Assessment of the therapeutic response of human breast carcinoma using in vivo volume localized proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Breast cancer is the commonest cancer among females and is a significant ca use of morbidity and mortality, Diagnostic techniques are becoming mandator y for early diagnosis, treatment and improved survival. Screening procedure s such as clinical breast examination, ultrasound, and mammography are ofte n limited in sensitivity and specificity. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a new noninvasive valuable tool for doing diagnostic mammography and com bined with in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), it offers an attr active alternative to monitor tissue biochemical/metabolic changes. In this brief review, we discuss the potential of noninvasively monitoring and ass essing the response of breast cancer to neoadjuvant chemotherapy using in v ivo volume localized proton MRS method that is employed in our laboratory.