Automatic Bolus Detection in Breast MRI: A Method to Improve Accuracy & Reliability?

Christian Geppert¹, Matthias Fenchel¹, Rolf Janka², Andre de Oliveira¹, Berthold Kiefer¹, Michael Uder², Evelyn Wenkel²

In diagnostic breast imaging, usually a dynamic scan is performed which consists of a native scan and a number (usually 3-10) of post contrast-administration (CA) scans of the identical volume. Despite the use of automatic injectors, the timing of the injection with the scan protocol is subject to operator dependent variations such as pause durations, patient weight- and injection location dependent changes etc. Moreover, due to the widespread use of CAD workstations that work with a fixed threshold for a defined time point such as 50 or 100% at the first post-CA time point, timing variations can significantly influence the appearance of enhancement maps.