Multishot Diffusion-Weighted MRI of the Breasts in the Supine vs. Prone Position
While breast MRI offers a more accurate detection approach than standard mammography, two challenges are (1) the uncomfortable prone position (patient lying on her stomach) and (2) the use of a contrast injection. This study is a preliminary effort to address both of these limitations.
Diffusion-weighted imaging highlights tissue where water mobility is limited including in tumors, and does not require a contrast injection. We compared diffusion-weighted imaging in women scanned in both the standard prone position and the supine position (on their back). In the supine position the acquisition is timed with breathing to avoid corrupting images due to respiratory motion. Our study showed very encouraging results, depicting breast cancers with similar image quality in both positions. Ultimately this may enable women to be scanned in a much more comfortable position, on their back, and possibly without the contrast injection.
Moran CJ, Middione MJ, Mazzoli V, McKay-Nault JA, Guidon A, Waheed U, Rosen EL, Poplack SP, Rosenberg J, Ennis DB, Hargreaves BA, Daniel BL. Multi-Shot Diffusion-Weighted Imaging of the Breasts in the Supine Position. J Magn Reson Imaging 2022 Dec 30. Doi: 10:1002/jmri.28582.
Prone (left) and supine (right) diffusion-weighted images from three patient cases showing (top to bottom) invasive ductal carcinoma with ductal carcinoma in situ, benign phyllodes tumor, and an invasive ductal carcinoma. The lesions are clearly shown with similar morphology between the two positions.