Imaging of breast tumors using MR-Elastography.

Purpose: Imaging of breast tumors using MR-Elastography. Material and metho d: Low-frequency mechanical waves are transmitted into breast-tissue by mea ns of an oscillator. The local characteristics of the mechanical wave are d etermined by the elastic properties of the tissue. By means of a motion-sen sitive spin-echo-sequence these waves can be displayed within the phase of the MR image. Subsequently, these images can be used to reconstruct the loc al distribution of elasticity. In-vivo measurements were performed in 3 fem ale patients with malignant tumors of the breast. Results: All patients tol erated the measurement set-up without any untoward sensation in the contact area of skin and oszillator. The waves completely penetrated the breast, e ncompassing the axilla and regions close to the chest wall. All tumors were localized by MRE as structures of markedly stiffer tissue when compared to the surrounding tissue. Furthermore, in one patient, a metastasis in an ax illary lymph node was detetected. In all patients, local regions of increas ed elasticity were found in the remaining parenchyma of the breast, which, however, did not reach the high levels of elasticity found in the tumors. C onclusion: MRE is an imaging modality enabling adjunct tissue differentiati on of mammary tumors.