Validating Lesion Washout Volume Fraction as a Biomarker for Improving Suspicious Breast Lesion Characterization

Jie Huang¹, Sarah Schafer¹, Lori Hoisington¹, Gerald Aben¹

This study validated lesion washout volume fraction as an MRI biomarker for improving the characterization of suspicious contrast-enhancing breast lesions. Using a sample consisting of 94 contrast-enhanced lesions with histopathology reports, the study found that the washout volume fraction was significantly larger for the malignant tumors than the benign lesions, reflecting the hypervascularity associated with tumor angiogenesis. It provides an additional MRI biomarker for improving the characterization of suspicious contrast-enhancing breast lesions, and the biomarker has the potential to improve the computer-based assessment in breast MRI.