The Optimal Pad Material for Fat Suppression of Breast MRI

Abstract

SummaryAlthough fat suppression technique is used in breast MRI, artifacts often appear owing to susceptibility and defective fat suppression effect after breast surgery. This is due to the abundance of adipose tissue in the breast as well as the region of air around the circumference of the excision site. Therefore, we have evaluated the optimal pad material for achieving fat suppression in breast MRI to reduce image artifacts and patient discomfort while maintaining breast shape. Oil of the solidity was used as the breast phantom material after segmental resection surgery. Five pad materials, including rice, ball bullets, glass beads, acrylic beads, and bath salts were used to fill the defects. Fat-suppressed, T1 -weighted, three-dimensional imaging was performed using a breast array coil. Images with and without the five pad materials, were evaluated physically, visually, and by contact. Physical evaluation consisted of measuring the maximum signal and standard deviation in the regions of interest (ROIs). Discomfort and the amount of perceived resistance were evaluated during contact evaluation by inserting a finger into each pad material. In results, glass beads and bath salts produced a significantly larger fat suppression effect in the ROIs. Visual and contact evaluation also highlighted the benefits of glass beads, the latter demonstrating a significant decrease in discomfort and perceived resistance. In conclusion, we consider glass beads as the optimal pad material for fat suppression in breast MRI after surgery.