Imaging in breast cancer: Magnetic resonance spectroscopy
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* Corresponding author: Michael Garwood gar@cmrr.umn.edu
1 Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
2 Department of Radiology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
3 Cancer Center, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
4 Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Breast Cancer Research 2005, 7:149-152 doi:10.1186/bcr1202
Published: 12 May 2005Abstract
A technique called in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) can be performed along with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to obtain information about the chemical content of breast lesions. This information can be used for several clinical applications, such as monitoring the response to cancer therapies and improving the accuracy of lesion diagnosis. Initial MRS studies of breast cancer show promising results, and a growing number of research groups are incorporating the technique into their breast MRI protocols. This article introduces 1H-MRS of the breast, reviews the literature, discusses current methods and technical issues, and describes applications for treatment monitoring and lesion diagnosis.