In vivo H-1 MRS of normal breast and breast tumors using a dedicated double breast coil

Image-guided localized proton MR spectroscopy (MRS) of normal breasts and b reast tumors (ductal and undifferentiated carcinomas) was performed using a dedicated double breast coil. In vivo H-1 MR spectra from 10 normal volunt eers showed signals from water and lipids only, even in breasts with small contribution of fatty breast tissue. In the spectra from 6 of the 12 examin ed patients, an intense signal assigned to choline compounds was detected, The signal was also detected at lower levels in the remaining patients, Thi s study shows that in vivo H-1 MRI/MRS examinations of breast tumors can be performed within an examination time of 45 to 60 minutes. Signals from bre ast tumor metabolites may be detected using in vivo H-1 MRS.