MRE-derived Tumor Stiffness as a Non-invasive Technique to Characterize Breast Tumors

Motivation: Breast tumors can be detected and characterized using biopsy and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI); however, MR Elastography (MRE) offers a novel, non-invasive diagnostic approach with comparable sensitivity and specificity. Goal(s): Validate the use of MRE to characterize breast tumors by comparing it with typical diagnostic techniques like histological grading and DCE-MRI. Approach: MRE was performed on patients with known breast tumors to measure stiffness and characterize breast tumors, then statistical analysis was conducted to validate the characterization against histological grading and DCE-MRI. Results: MRE-derived tumor stiffness was statistically significantly consistent with clinical grading and DCE-MRI characterization of tumors. Impact: The statistically significant consistency between the non-invasive MRE-derived tumor stiffness and the current gold-standards of diagnosis, histological grading and DCE-MRI, means that breast tumor characterization through MRE is possible while maintaining sensitivity and specificity.