TY - JOUR
T1 - MR Elastography of the Breast
T2 - Evolution of Technique, Case Examples, and Future Directions
AU - Patel, Bhavika K.
AU - Samreen, Naziya
AU - Zhou, Yuxiang
AU - Chen, Jun
AU - Brandt, Kathy
AU - Ehman, Richard
AU - Pepin, Kay
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Elsevier Inc.
PY - 2021/2
Y1 - 2021/2
N2 - Recognizing that breast cancers present as firm, stiff lesions, the foundation of breast magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) is to combine tissue stiffness parameters with sensitive breast MR contrast-enhanced imaging. Breast MRE is a non-ionizing, cross-sectional MR imaging technique that provides for quantitative viscoelastic properties, including tissue stiffness, elasticity, and viscosity, of breast tissues. Currently, the technique continues to evolve as research surrounding the use of MRE in breast tissue is still developing. In the setting of a newly diagnosed cancer, associated desmoplasia, stiffening of the surrounding stroma, and necrosis are known to be prognostic factors that can add diagnostic information to patient treatment algorithms. In fact, mechanical properties of the tissue might also influence breast cancer risk. For these reasons, exploration of breast MRE has great clinical value. In this review, we will: (1) address the evolution of the various MRE techniques; (2) provide a brief overview of the current clinical studies in breast MRE with interspersed case examples; and (3) suggest directions for future research.
AB - Recognizing that breast cancers present as firm, stiff lesions, the foundation of breast magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) is to combine tissue stiffness parameters with sensitive breast MR contrast-enhanced imaging. Breast MRE is a non-ionizing, cross-sectional MR imaging technique that provides for quantitative viscoelastic properties, including tissue stiffness, elasticity, and viscosity, of breast tissues. Currently, the technique continues to evolve as research surrounding the use of MRE in breast tissue is still developing. In the setting of a newly diagnosed cancer, associated desmoplasia, stiffening of the surrounding stroma, and necrosis are known to be prognostic factors that can add diagnostic information to patient treatment algorithms. In fact, mechanical properties of the tissue might also influence breast cancer risk. For these reasons, exploration of breast MRE has great clinical value. In this review, we will: (1) address the evolution of the various MRE techniques; (2) provide a brief overview of the current clinical studies in breast MRE with interspersed case examples; and (3) suggest directions for future research.
KW - Breast MR imaging
KW - Breast elasticity
KW - Breast imaging
KW - Breast tissue stiffness
KW - Breast viscosity
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U2 - 10.1016/j.clbc.2020.08.005
DO - 10.1016/j.clbc.2020.08.005
M3 - Review article
C2 - 32900617
AN - SCOPUS:85090480448
SN - 1526-8209
VL - 21
SP - e102-e111
JO - Clinical breast cancer
JF - Clinical breast cancer
IS - 1
ER -