MR imaging of the breast: fast imaging sequences with and without Gd-DTPA. Preliminary observations.

Of a total of 191 magnetic resonance breast studies performed since March 1984, 82 were performed with gradient-echo fast low-angle shot (FLASH) sequences and fast imaging with steady precession (FISP). These techniques permit imaging of thin and contiguous sections, resulting in high resolution of the parenchymal structure. Intravenous injection of 0.1 mmol/kg of gadolinium diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid dimeglumine (50% of the dose used in spin-echo sequences) aided in detection of carcinomas as small as 3 mm in dense breast tissue. In 25 patients, dynamic studies were performed at short intervals after the injection of contrast medium in an attempt to differentiate more reliably between breast tissue types. All six malignant tumors found in these 25 patients showed enhancement characterized by a sudden increase in signal intensity on the order of 100% within the first 2 minutes after injection and a much slighter increase thereafter. Sixteen benign lesions showed a substantially different pattern of enhancement. Further studies are required to confirm these findings.