MR guidance permits more precise localization

Researchers from the University of Cologne in Germany report that real-time MR-guided wire localization of suspicious breast lesions using an open 1T scanner permits correction of the

needle position during placement and reduces interventional procedure time.

The study, published in Radiology, monitored needle placement in 30 women by using a dynamic balanced gradient-echo (single-shot turbo field-echo) sequence with a 0.5-second temporal resolution. The tip of the needle was clearly identified in all patients during placement. Diagnostic MR following the interventional procedure confirmed that the hook wires were placed 0 to 6 mm (mean, 3.3 mm) from the target lesions. Total procedure time ranged from 16 to 36 minutes.