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Comparison of MR Imaging Breast Coils¹

¹ From the Department of Imaging Research, Sunnybrook and Women’s College Health Sciences Centre, 2075 Bayview Ave, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4N 3M5 (N.B.K., E.A.R., M.J.B., D.B.P.); and Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada (M.J.B., D.B.P.). Received July 25, 2000; revision requested August 21; final revision received September 5, 2001; accepted September 4. Supported by the Terry Fox Foundation through the National Cancer Institute of Canada, Cancer Care Ontario, and GE Medical Systems Canada. Address correspondence to N.B.K. (e-mail: norman.konyer@swchsc.on.ca).

View larger version (90K): [in a new window]   Figure 1a. Transverse spin-echo images obtained in the first volunteer with (a) coil 1, (b) coil 2, (c) coil 3, (d) the mediolateral array, and (e) the elliptic coil. Differences in uniformity are apparent, and the brightest regions indicate the approximate locations of coil elements.

View larger version (93K): [in a new window]   Figure 1b. Transverse spin-echo images obtained in the first volunteer with (a) coil 1, (b) coil 2, (c) coil 3, (d) the mediolateral array, and (e) the elliptic coil. Differences in uniformity are apparent, and the brightest regions indicate the approximate locations of coil elements.

View larger version (96K): [in a new window]   Figure 1c. Transverse spin-echo images obtained in the first volunteer with (a) coil 1, (b) coil 2, (c) coil 3, (d) the mediolateral array, and (e) the elliptic coil. Differences in uniformity are apparent, and the brightest regions indicate the approximate locations of coil elements.

View larger version (85K): [in a new window]   Figure 1d. Transverse spin-echo images obtained in the first volunteer with (a) coil 1, (b) coil 2, (c) coil 3, (d) the mediolateral array, and (e) the elliptic coil. Differences in uniformity are apparent, and the brightest regions indicate the approximate locations of coil elements.

View larger version (99K): [in a new window]   Figure 1e. Transverse spin-echo images obtained in the first volunteer with (a) coil 1, (b) coil 2, (c) coil 3, (d) the mediolateral array, and (e) the elliptic coil. Differences in uniformity are apparent, and the brightest regions indicate the approximate locations of coil elements.

View larger version (134K): [in a new window]   Figure 2a. Sagittal three-dimensional spoiled gradient-recalled images obtained in the first volunteer with (a) coil 1, (b) coil 2, (c) coil 3, (d) the mediolateral array, and (e) the elliptic coil.

View larger version (143K): [in a new window]   Figure 2b. Sagittal three-dimensional spoiled gradient-recalled images obtained in the first volunteer with (a) coil 1, (b) coil 2, (c) coil 3, (d) the mediolateral array, and (e) the elliptic coil.

View larger version (148K): [in a new window]   Figure 2c. Sagittal three-dimensional spoiled gradient-recalled images obtained in the first volunteer with (a) coil 1, (b) coil 2, (c) coil 3, (d) the mediolateral array, and (e) the elliptic coil.

View larger version (143K): [in a new window]   Figure 2d. Sagittal three-dimensional spoiled gradient-recalled images obtained in the first volunteer with (a) coil 1, (b) coil 2, (c) coil 3, (d) the mediolateral array, and (e) the elliptic coil.

View larger version (149K): [in a new window]   Figure 2e. Sagittal three-dimensional spoiled gradient-recalled images obtained in the first volunteer with (a) coil 1, (b) coil 2, (c) coil 3, (d) the mediolateral array, and (e) the elliptic coil.

View larger version (29K): [in a new window]   Figure 3. With data from Figures 1 and 2, bar graph depicts mean uniformity values in the center of the breast with coil 1 (Medrad), coil 2 (Med.Adv.), coil 3 (MRI Dev.), the mediolateral array (M-L), and the elliptic coil (Elliptical). Images were obtained in the three principal directions (anteroposterior [A-P], mediolateral [M-L], and superoinferior [S-I]). Uniformity in a given direction depends on the geometry of the individual coil elements.

View larger version (20K): [in a new window]   Figure 4. With data from Figure 2, bar graph depicts mean SNR values in the center of the breast relative to that with the elliptic coil. The four-coil arrays (mediolateral [M-L] array and coil 3 [MRI Dev.]) outperformed the two-coil arrays (coils 1 [Medrad] and 2 [Med.Adv]). * indicates that SNR with coil 2, with the two-coil array, would be reduced if the coil were used as a four-coil array as directed by the manufacturer.