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Review
. 2020 Jul;52(1):70-90.
doi: 10.1002/jmri.26908. Epub 2019 Sep 14.

Diffusion MRI of the breast: Current status and future directions

Affiliations
Review

Diffusion MRI of the breast: Current status and future directions

Mami Iima et al. J Magn Reson Imaging. 2020 Jul.

Abstract

Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is increasingly being incorporated into routine breast MRI protocols in many institutions worldwide, and there are abundant breast DWI indications ranging from lesion detection and distinguishing malignant from benign tumors to assessing prognostic biomarkers of breast cancer and predicting treatment response. DWI has the potential to serve as a noncontrast MR screening method. Beyond apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) mapping, which is a commonly used quantitative DWI measure, advanced DWI models such as intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM), non-Gaussian diffusion MRI, and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) are extensively exploited in this field, allowing the characterization of tissue perfusion and architecture and improving diagnostic accuracy without the use of contrast agents. This review will give a summary of the clinical literature along with future directions. Level of Evidence: 5 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2020;52:70-90.

Keywords: ADC; breast diffusion-weighted MRI; diffusion tensor imaging; diffusion time; intravoxel incoherent motion; non-Gaussian diffusion.

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References

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