Sequence and position; the selection in MRI of the breast

Objective To explore the impact of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the breast lesions with spin echo(SE), fast spin echo (FSE), 3 dimension fast SPGR(SD-FSPGR) and multiple position. Methods Forty/cases with breast masses were scanned by means of SE T1-weighted imaging (T1WI) and FSE T2-weighted imaging(T2WI) with fat suppression in axial and sagittal position. After injecting Gd-DTPA, dynamic enhancement with 3D-FSPGR sequence was done in sagittal position. Then, SE T1WI with fat suppression was used in axial , sagittal and / or coronal position. Results All of 3 imaging sequences showed satisfied signal to noise ratio (SNR) and high contrast resolution between breast lesions and their surround normal tissue. SE T1WI without Gd-DTPA had higher SNR than FSE T2WI, but was not better than FSE T2WI in differentiated lesions from normal tissue. 3D-FSPGR sequence with chemical saturation had the highest sensitivity for detecting breast lesions among all 3 sequences and could show the occult lesions and increased the accuracy of diagnosis according to the enhanced characteristics and time intensity curves of lesions . Contrast enhanced fat-suppressed SE sequence also had high sensitivity, but was not used as dynamic enhanced scan. Axial and sagittal images were good for observing extent of the breast lesions and axillary enlarged lymph nodes. Conclusion 3D-FSPGR is a recommended and valuable sequence. Axial and sagittal MRI for breast lesions should be routine positions.