Assessing breast density using the chemical-shift encoding-based proton density fat fraction in 3-T MRI
Borde T, Wu M, Ruschke S, Boehm C, Stelter J, Weiss K, Metz S, Makowski MR, Karampinos DCC, Fallenberg EM (2022)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2022
Journal
DOI: 10.1007/s00330-022-09341-x
Abstract
Objectives: There is a clinical need for a non-ionizing, quantitative assessment of breast density, as one of the strongest independent risk factors for breast cancer. This study aims to establish proton density fat fraction (PDFF) as a quantitative biomarker for fat tissue concentration in breast MRI and correlate mean breast PDFF to mammography. Methods: In this retrospective study, 193 women were routinely subjected to 3-T MRI using a six-echo chemical shift encoding-based water-fat sequence. Water-fat separation was based on a signal model accounting for a single T2* decay and a pre-calibrated 7-peak fat spectrum resulting in volumetric fat-only, water-only images, PDFF- and T2*-values. After semi-automated breast segmentation, PDFF and T2* values were determined for the entire breast and fibroglandular tissue. The mammographic and MRI-based breast density was classified by visual estimation using the American College of Radiology Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System categories (ACR A-D). Results: The PDFF negatively correlated with mammographic and MRI breast density measurements (Spearman rho: −0.74, p <.001) and revealed a significant distinction between all four ACR categories. Mean T2* of the fibroglandular tissue correlated with increasing ACR categories (Spearman rho: 0.34, p <.001). The PDFF of the fibroglandular tissue showed a correlation with age (Pearson rho: 0.56, p =.03). Conclusion: The proposed breast PDFF as an automated tissue fat concentration measurement is comparable with mammographic breast density estimations. Therefore, it is a promising approach to an accurate, user-independent, and non-ionizing breast density assessment that could be easily incorporated into clinical routine breast MRI exams. Key Points: • The proposed PDFF strongly negatively correlates with visually determined mammographic and MRI-based breast density estimations and therefore allows for an accurate, non-ionizing, and user-independent breast density measurement. • In combination with T2*, the PDFF can be used to track structural alterations in the composition of breast tissue for an individualized risk assessment for breast cancer.
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How to cite
APA:
Borde, T., Wu, M., Ruschke, S., Boehm, C., Stelter, J., Weiss, K.,... Fallenberg, E.M. (2022). Assessing breast density using the chemical-shift encoding-based proton density fat fraction in 3-T MRI. European Radiology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-022-09341-x
MLA:
Borde, Tabea, et al. "Assessing breast density using the chemical-shift encoding-based proton density fat fraction in 3-T MRI." European Radiology (2022).
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