Side of contrast injection and breast size correlate with motion artifacts grade and image quality on breast MRI.

Luca A Carbonaro, Simone Schiaffino, Paola Clauser, Ludmila Tomkova, Maria Iodice, Chiara Zuiani, Francesco Sardanelli

Acta radiologica (Stockholm, Sweden : 1987) 2021 Jan

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Motion is a relevant cause of artifacts in breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), potentially degrading image quality, even with optimized protocols. To investigate the causes of motion artifacts (MA) impacting on image quality (IQ) of contrast-enhanced breast MRI. Retrospective two-center study on consecutive 1.5-T contrast-enhanced breast MRI, independently reviewed by two radiologists on first subtracted and maximum intensity projection images to define the side most affected by MA. IQ was scored as 1 (optimal), 2 (reduced, but without reduction of diagnostic power), or 3 (reduced, with reduced diagnostic power). Correlations with injection side, breast size (A/B vs. C/D cups), patient age, clinical indication, and MRI scanner/protocol were assessed using χ2 and Fisher's exact statistics. In total, 237 examinations were included, with right injection performed in 124 (52%) and left in 113 (48%). MA were more frequent on the side ipsilateral to the injection (144/237, 61%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 54-67%) than on the contralateral (93/237, 95% CI 33-46%) (P < 0.001); IQ was scored 1 in 154/237 (65%), 2 in 63/237 (27%), and 3 in 20/237 (8%) examinations; patients with A/B cups showed higher IQ score than patients with C/D cups (scores 1, 2, and 3: 54% vs. 70%; 29% vs. 25%; 17% vs. 5%, respectively, P = 0.002). No significant correlations were found for MA (P≥0.106) or IQ (P ≥ 0.318) between ipsi- or contralateral injection and right/left injection, breast size, age, indication, or scanner/protocol. MA were more frequent in breasts ipsilateral to contrast injection and showed a reduced IQ for small breasts.

Citation

Luca A Carbonaro, Simone Schiaffino, Paola Clauser, Ludmila Tomkova, Maria Iodice, Chiara Zuiani, Francesco Sardanelli. Side of contrast injection and breast size correlate with motion artifacts grade and image quality on breast MRI. Acta radiologica (Stockholm, Sweden : 1987). 2021 Jan;62(1):19-26