Georg Johannes Wengert, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Hubert Bickel MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Katja Pinker-Domenig MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Wolf-Dieter Vogl, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Benedikt Brück, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Thomas Hans Helbich MD, Abstract Co-Author: Research Consultant, Siemens AG Research Consultant, Hologic, Inc Research Grant, Siemens AG

Breast density is one of the strongest predictors of breast cancer risk. To-date breast density measurement is performed qualitatively using mammography with radiation and compression. The aim of this study is to introduce a novel radiation-free, fully automatic quantitative volumetric breast density measurement with MRI using the Dixon sequence and to quantify the variations in breast tissue and volume measurements due to patient positioning.

33 healthy volunteers without any history of breast disease (age range of 21-68; mean 38 years) were included in this prospective IRB-approved study. In all healthy volunteers breast density was measured with radiation- and compression-free MRI using the Dixon sequence (TR/TE 6ms/ 2.45ms/2.67ms, 192 slices, matrix 352 x 352, 1mm isotropic, TA 3:38 min). The Dixon sequence acquires two separate datasets in one sequence, one representing the fatty components and one the fibroglandular components of the breast. Our MRI breast density measurement system uses a fully automated segmentation of the anatomic region of the breast and generates a combined histogram resulting in two discriminable clusters of fatty and fibroglandular breast tissue. The system automatically calculates the total volume of the breast (cm3), the percentage of fatty tissue (%) and the percentage of fibroglandular tissue (%). Each volunteer was scanned twice with a delay of approximately 30 min in between the two examinations. Both breast density measurements were correlated.

Quantitative volumetric breast density measurement with MRI using the Dixon sequence was successfully performed in all healthy volunteers. In both examinations, density values ranged from 1.6% to 61.9% (mean 29.05%). There was excellent correlation of percentage breast density, total breast volume and total volume of fibroglandular tissue in all healthy volunteers for both measurements (r = 0.97; P < 0,0001).

Fully automated quantitative volumetric measurement of breast density with MRI using the Dixon sequence is a robust method, which allows a reliable and reproducible assessment of breast density, a strong predictor of breast cancer risk.

Fully automated MRI breast density measurement provides an objective method of recording breast density, which in the future will be used to assess the effectiveness of preventive measures.

Wengert, G, Bickel, H, Pinker-Domenig, K, Vogl, W, Brück, B, Helbich, T, Fully Automated Breast Density Measurement with MRI Using the DIXON Sequence: Is It a Reliable and Robust Method?.  Radiological Society of North America 2012 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 25 - November 30, 2012 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2012/12035979.html