Improving Breast MRI with Novel Imaging Methods and RF Coils

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women. Early detection is crucial to ensure that treatment can begin as soon as possible. X-ray mammography is commonly used to identify tumours at an early stage, but it has limitations. It is not very sensitive in women with dense breasts, for instance, and it is not ideal for screening in younger women because it uses ionizing radiation. An alternative to X-ray mammography is MRI, which does not use ionising radiation and is more sensitive. MRI suffers some problems of its own, though: image quality can be compromised by irregularities caused by water and fat (known as chemical shift artefacts), it requires the injection of contrast agents, which are under safety scrutiny and the procedure can be somewhat exposing and uncomfortable, as women have to undergo the examination partially undressed and lying on their front with arms outstretched for about 20 minutes. This project aims to enhance breast MRI by developing new imaging methods which eliminate chemical shift artefacts and potentially remove the need for contrast agents. The foundation of this advancement is a technique developed recently at the High Field MR Center, Vienna, called Simultaneous MUltiple Resonance Frequency (SMURF) imaging. The SMURF method captures images of fat and water separately yet simultaneously, allowing chemical shift artefacts to be removed. Deployed in breast imaging, this will provide radiologists with a clearer view of both fatty and glandular tissues of the breast, allowing pathologies to be more clearly visualised and localised. The SMURF approach will enable advanced imaging techniques like Susceptibility-Weighted Imaging and Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping, which can visualize calcifications and the vessels in and around tumours - features not easily captured with current methods. Improved imaging of the diffusion of water molecules in the breast will also provide insights into tumour structure, the crucial step towards eliminating the need for contrast agents. To improve patient comfort and image quality at the same time, we are advancing our concept of signal detectors integrated in a flexible garment called the BraCoil. Instead of lying face-down with the breasts placed in indentations in the imaging table, the "BraCoil" allows the examination to take place fully clothed and lying on the back. In this project, we will enhance the BraCoil by filling it with beads that match the magnetic properties of breasts tissue, making the magnetic field more uniform and thereby improving image quality. These advancements stand to make breast MRI safer, more comfortable, and effective for screening and follow-up exams, potentially extending screening to younger women and reducing unnecessary biopsies.