Quantitative Dynamic Contrast Enhanced Breast MRI

With an IV catheter in place, the patient will lie prone on the MRI scanner table with the breasts positioned in the commercial breast coil and then be moved feet first to the center of the MRI scanner. The only difference introduced by the addition of DCE MRI is that before the patient is moved into the scanner for the first time, the IV catheter will be hooked up with a programmable power injector (Medrad, Indianola, PA) which is loaded with Gd contrast and saline. The contrast injection and saline flush will be delivered by the injector while the patient is inside the scanner and the DCE MRI data collection is in process. The Gd contrast dose used for DCE MRI is the same as for clinical MRI: 0.1 mmol/kg. The injection speed of 2 mL/sec is safe and similar to that of manual injection.