Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is increasingly being utilized in breast imaging for various indications. Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), a magnetic resonance imaging sequence based on the observation of the movement of water molecules in tissues, reduces the number of false-positive findings and helps to more accurately characterize breast lesions. Before being introduced into clinical practice, DWI requires a comprehensive validation.
MD Otso Arponen’s doctoral dissertation focused on the clinical implementation of DWI. The results of the first study indicated that by selecting the area with the lowest diffusion, instead of selecting the whole tumour area, one may more accurately discriminate between malignant and benign breast lesions. The second study demonstrated that the specificity of MRI in MRI-detected suspicious lesions could be improved by incorporating the T2 signal intensity and the DWI assessment into the routine practice. Finally, the third study revealed that the administration of contrast agent could affect the quantitative DWI evaluation, emphasizing the importance of the stratification of sequence parameters and the acquisition order of the magnetic resonance imaging sequences.
“Diffusion-weighted imaging is being increasingly incorporated into magnetic resonance imaging protocols. Our findings are significant as they improve the diagnostic performance of diffusion-weighted imaging” Arponen concludes. “In line with our results, the recent consensus guideline by the EUSOBI International Breast Diffusion-Weighted Imaging working group now embraces the use of small measurement areas with the lowest diffusion and recommends stratifying the MRI sequence order.”
The doctoral dissertation of Otso Arponen, M.D., entitled Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in breast cancer, will be examined in the Faculty of Health Sciences on 17 January 2020. The opponent in the public examination will be Adjunct Professor Tuomo Meretoja of the University of Helsinki, and the custos will be Professor Ritva Vanninen of the University of Eastern Finland. The public examination will be held in Finnish.
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https://kuvapankki.uef.fi/A/UEF+kuvahakemisto/18474?encoding=UTF-8
