Diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging of the normal breast

• Published in: Magnetic resonance imaging 2010-04, Vol.28 (3), p.320-328
• Main Authors: Partridge, Savannah C, Murthy, Revathi S, Ziadloo, Ali, White, Steven W, Allison, Kimberly H, Lehman, Constance D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Anisotropy; Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC); Breast - anatomy & histology; Breast - physiology; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI); Female; Fractional anisotropy (FA); Humans; Normal breast; Radiology; Reference Values; Repeatability; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity
• ISSN: 0730-725X; 1873-5894
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2009.10.003

Abstract Purpose The objective of this study was to evaluate diffusion anisotropy of the breast parenchyma and assess the range and repeatability of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters in normal breast tissue. Materials and Methods The study was approved by our institutional review board and included 12 healthy females (median age, 36 years). Diffusion tensor imaging was performed at 1.5 T using a diffusion-weighted echo planar imaging sequence. Diffusion tensor imaging parameters including tensor eigenvalues ( λ1 , λ2 , λ3 ), fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) were measured for anterior, central and posterior breast regions. Results Mean normal breast DTI measures were λ1 =2.51×10−3 mm2 /s, λ2 =1.89×10−3 mm2 /s, λ3 =1.39×10−3 mm2 /s, ADC=1.95±0.24×10−3 mm2 /s and FA=0.29±0.05 for b =600 s/mm2 . Significant regional differences were observed for both FA and ADC ( P