Intensity-modulated parametric mapping for simultaneous display of rapid dynamic and high-spatial-resolution breast MR imaging data

Contrast material-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the breast ha s variable specificity for differentiation of breast cancer from other enha ncing conditions. Two principal strategies to improve its specificity are r apid dynamic MR imaging and high-spatial-resolution MR imaging. A method wa s developed of combining contemporaneously acquired dynamic and high-spatia l-resolution MR imaging data into a single integrated display. Whole-breast rapid dynamic data were condensed into a color map by using pharmacokineti c analysis. The pharmacokinetic results were combined with the high-spatial -resolution images with a new technique that preserves underlying morpholog ic details. This new method was evaluated by five radiologists for eight br east lesions, and the results were compared with those of the standard meth od of overlaying parametric map data. The radiologists' ratings showed a st atistically significant preference for the intensity-modulated parametric m ap display method over the overlaid parametric display method for 10 of the 12 evaluation criteria. The new method enabled simultaneous visualization of pharmacokinetic and morphologic information, facilitated assessment of l esion extent, and improved the suppression of noise in the pharmacokinetic data. The ability to simultaneously assess both dynamic and high-spatial-re solution features may ultimately improve the specificity of breast MR imagi ng.