MRI-guided breast biopsy at 3T using a dedicated large core biopsy set: Feasibility and initial results

• Published in: European journal of radiology Vol. 79; no. 2; pp. 257 - 261
• Main Authors: Meeuwis, Carla, Mann, Ritse M, Mus, Roel. D.M, Winkel, Axel, Boetes, Carla, Barentsz, Jelle O, Veltman, Jeroen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.08.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Biopsy; Biopsy - instrumentation; Breast neoplasms; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Contrast Media; Feasibility Studies; Female; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; High field; Humans; Magnetic resonance imaging; Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Interventional - methods; Mammary gland diseases; Medical sciences; Meglumine; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Staging; Organometallic Compounds; Radiology; Time Factors; Tumors; Ultrasonography, Mammary; High field; Breast neoplasms; Magnetic resonance imaging; Biopsy; Guidance; Mammary gland diseases; Breast disease; Breast tumor; Breast; Medical imagery; Mammary gland; Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging
• ISSN: 0720-048X; 1872-7727
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2010.05.001

Abstract Objective The increasing importance of breast MRI in the diagnostic processes concerning breast cancer yield often lesions that are visible on MRI only. To assess the nature of these lesions, pathologic analysis is necessary. Therefore, MR-guided biopsy should be available. Breast MRI at 3T has shown advantage over 1.5T. Unfortunately, current equipment for MR-guided biopsy is better suited for intervention at 1.5T due to the danger of heating titanium co-axial sleeves and large susceptibility artifacts. We evaluated a dedicated 3T breast biopsy set that uses plastic coaxial needles to overcome these problems. Materials and methods We performed MRI-guided breast biopsy in 23 women with 24 MRI-only visible breast lesions at 3T. Biopsy procedures were performed with plastic coaxial needles in a closed bore 3T clinical MR system on a dedicated phased array breast coil with a commercially available add-on stereotactic biopsy device. Results Width of the needle artifact was 2 mm in all 24 cases. Biopsy procedure was completed between 35 and 67 min. The procedure was judged moderately easy in 12 and normal in 10 cases. One procedure was judged difficult and there was one technical failure. Conclusion MRI-guided breast biopsy at 3T is a fast and accurate procedure. The plastic coaxial needles reduce the susceptibility artifact largely and do not increase the difficulty of the procedure. The diagnostic yield is at least equal to the diagnostic yield of the same procedure at 1.5T. Therefore, this technique can be safely used for lesions only visible at 3T MRI.