Stefan Carp PhD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Amir Sajjadi, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Qianqian Fang PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Research Grant, Koninklijke Philips NV

David Boas PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Research Grant, Koninklijke Philips NV Research Grant, Canon Inc

Steven Isakoff, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Recently, near-infrared dynamic optical imaging of the breast tissue response to compression or gas inhalation has been shown to provide additional novel diagnostic information for breast cancer monitoring. In particular, our group has done pioneering work on characterizing the response of malignant lesions vs surrounding normal tissues to mammographic like compresion. Here we present a multi-modal combined optical-MRI platform for functional breast imaging during compression and present preliminary data on healthy volunteers and two breast cancer patients. 

We have constructed a custom breast coil platform compatible to our 3T Siemens Tim Trio scanners, that combines an 8 element sagittal phased array MR receive component with a hydraulic compression mechanism and a fiber optic interface. A translatable plate carries 32 400 micron optical source fibers, while the other, fixed plate carryies 32 2.5 mm optical receive fiber bundles. Transmitted light intensity is measured at two wavelengths (690 and 830 nm) at a 25 Hz rate. We compressed the breast several times to approximately a third of the typical mamographic compression force and recorded both optical data and functional MRI data for 30 seconds pre-compression as well as 120 seconds after the compression. We used a multi-echo GRE sequence (TR/TE/alpha=48/2.16-30.78/20 deg.) for T2* quantification and a 3D GRE structural scan to determine the co-registration information between the optical and MRI scans. 

Using the optical data, we noted a differential increase in blood volume between the tumor area and surrounding normal tissue, together with a differential decrease in hemoglobin oxygen saturation. The MRI scan showed decreased T2* values in the tumor area, potentially consistent with a local increase in deoxy-hemoglobin concentration. These hemodynamic/T2* changes were repeatable across multiple compression cycles.

Dynamic optical imaging biomarkers may offer a novel contrast mechanism for assessing breast cancer physiology. Our combined optical-MRI compression platform can be used to validate this contrast mechanism and optical imaging may be a useful addition to clinical  breast MRI scans in the future. 

Monitoring hemodynamic changes during breast compression may be offer an additional dimension for breast cancer imaging investigations. 

Carp, S, Sajjadi, A, Fang, Q, Boas, D, Isakoff, S, Dynamic Imaging Biomarkers Derived from the Breast Tissue Functional Response to Compression Quantified Using a Multi-modal Optical-MRI Platform.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14045525.html