Improving the Quality of Breast MRI Acquisition and Processing

Examining the impact of training sessions for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technologists at the University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center in Ohio, researchers saw significant improvements in image acquisition and processing for breast MRI exams, according to new study findings presented at the Society for Breast Imaging (SBI) 2024 Breast Imaging Symposium in Montreal.

In a recent interview, Shahrzad Tavana, M.D., pointed out a 25 percent improvement in the compliance rate for correct breast positioning within the coil (from 52 percent pre-training to 77 percent post-training) and a 29 percent improvement with ensuring an optimal field of view (from 62 percent pre-training to 91 percent post-training.

“The ideal field of view for a breast MRI is from the clavicle to the inframammary fold with the axilla included bilaterally,” noted Dr. Tavana, a chief resident in diagnostic radiology at the University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center in Ohio. “Sometimes we noticed that some of the breast MRs being done included the spine in the field of view. Sometimes, the axilla wasn’t adequately covered. All of these affect the resolution.”

(Editor’s note: For related content, see “Study Shows BPE Quantification on MRI Helps Predict Risk of Breast Cancer Recurrence,” “MRI Surveillance Associated with 80 Percent Reduction in Breast Cancer Mortality for Women with BRCA1” and “Five Takeaways from New Breast MRI Literature Review.”)

Dr. Tavana and her colleagues also a 39 percent improvement in accuracy with the submission of MRI sequences to PACS (from 47 percent pre-training to 86 percent post-training). The training also led to reduced false positive scans, decreased recall rates and improved efficiency in the reading room, according to Dr. Tavana.

“Our project underscored the importance of a collaborative effort between the radiologists and the MRI technologists,” emphasized Dr. Tavana. “It resulted in improved quality of the breast MRs that we perform here.”

For more insights from Dr. Tavana, watch the video below.