Fat suppression with spectrally selective inversion vs. high spectral and spatial resolution MRI of breast lesions: qualitative and quantitative comparisons.

PURPOSE: To compare conventional fat-suppressed MR images of the breast to images derived from high spectral and spatial resolution MR data. Image quality and the level of fat suppression are compared qualitatively and quantitatively.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Women with suspicious breast lesions found on X-ray mammography were imaged on 1.5 Tesla GE SIGNA scanners. High spectral and spatial resolution (HiSS) data were acquired using echo-planar spectroscopic imaging. Images with intensity proportional to the water signal peak height in each voxel were synthesized. Conventional fat-suppressed images were acquired using a frequency selective inversion method. The experimental (HiSS) and conventional images were compared by experienced radiologists to evaluate the quality of fat suppression. In addition, fat suppression and image quality were evaluated quantitatively.
RESULTS: Fat suppression, tumor edge delineation, lesion conspicuity, and image texture were improved in the peak height images derived from HiSS data.
CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate that the water peak height images obtained from HiSS data potentially could improve the quality of fat suppression, detection and diagnosis of breast cancer. HiSS allowed detection of lesions and evaluation of lesion morphology prior to contrast media injection. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2006. (c) 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.