ARRS 2009: Diffusion-Weighted Imaging May Improve Accuracy of Breast MRI

May 4, 2009 (Boston, Massachusetts) — Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) used to distinguish malignant vs benign breast lesions during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is helpful and may reduce the number of unnecessary breast biopsies, according to new research.

DWI is a technique involving the exchange of water molecules (diffusion) between breast tissue compartments. Diffusion rates vary between normal and pathologic tissue. With DWI MRI, the MRI machine is set to detect small restrictions in the free movement of water within the breast. Restricted diffusion areas show as hot spots on the MRI.

"The main aim of our work is to help save women from unnecessary breast biopsies," said lead investigator R. El-Khouli, MD, who lead the study when she was at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland, but is now with the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. She presented study results here last week at the American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS) 2009 Annual Meeting.

source: Medscape