Prateek Kalra1, Arunark Kolipaka, PhD1, Jeffrey R. Hawley, MD1, and Brian Raterman1
Magnetic resonance
elastography (MRE) is a non-invasive technique to estimate stiffness of soft
tissues and has been applied in the breast. However, none of the earlier
studies have extensively tested MRE to induce vibrations in the breast using a
soft sternum driver at higher field strength and its repeatability of stiffness
measurements. The aim of the study is to estimate breast stiffness using MRE by
inducing vibrations using a soft sternum driver in normal volunteers at 3T and
to determine the reproducibility of stiffness measurements. Preliminary results show that the MRE-derived stiffness values are
reproducible in normal volunteers at 3T and can be further extended to detect
breast tumors in patients.