Breast cancer treatment-related lymphedema (BCRL) is a chronic condition with 30% two-year incidence in cancer survivors treated with lymph node dissection. Changes in the tissue microenvironment indicate edema rich in macromolecular proteins. We hypothesize that chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) MRI, after accounting for transmit field (B1) heterogeneity and longitudinal (T1) relaxation time variation, will be sensitive to affected tissues in patients with BCRL. We report that after performing appropriate correction procedures in the upper extremities, it is possible to detect disease-specific CEST contrast in the affected and contralateral arms of BCRL patients.
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