Effect of temporal resolution on the diagnostic efficacy of contrast-enhanced MRI in the conservatively treated breast

Purpose: Our goal was to assess the effect of image acquisition rate on the diagnostic efficacy of contrast-enhanced MRI in the conservatively treated breast. Method: Sixty-seven women, treated with breast-conserving surgery and radiotherapy for early-stage breast cancer, were imaged at 1.5 T using a dynamic contrast-enhanced sequence with a temporal resolution of 12 s. Enhancement was recorded over time for the dominant lesion in each patient. Data were subsequently removed to simulate various acquisition rates, and the enhancement indexes of benign and malignant lesions were compared. Results: Seventeen patients had confirmed local recurrence and 50 remained disease-free. There were significant differences in the enhancement indexes of benign and malignant lesions 24-264 s after contrast agent administration. Acquisition rate had a negligible effect upon diagnostic efficacy. Conclusion: Two image data sets collected before contrast agent administration and between 1.5 and 3.5 min afterward may be sufficient to differentiate recurrent and benign disease.