Early Detection of Breast Cancer and Recurrence Following Therapy with Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy.
Abstract
We have successfully developed a technical approach that can be employed to produce MRS spectra of the breast lesions as small as (6 mm)3. These methods have been applied to a cohort of 35 patients. Using the presence of choline in the MR spectra as an indicator of malignancy, the positive predictive value is 0.90. This observation indicates that MRS may be employed in several ways. First it may provide a method for the improved distinction between benign and malignant lesions. Second the presence of choline may provide a means for differentiating recurrent tumor from radiation induced fibrosis. Finally, changes in the choline peak may provide a means for assessing response to therapy in patients with locally advanced breast cancer. Each of these three methods merits further investigation. Future directions that this project may take include: (1) MRS studies of breast lesions at 4.0 T, (2) determining the incremental diagnostic efficiency of MRS, and (3) carrying; out an analysis of the cost effectiveness of MRS as a diagnostic method.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA314173
Entities
People
- Lawrence Solin
- Robert E. Lenkinski
Organizations
- University of Pennsylvania