BOLD Imaging of Compressed Breast Hemodynamics

Stefan Alexandru Carp¹, Azma Mareyam¹, Lawrence Wald¹, David Alan Boas¹

External compression induced hemodynamic changes in the breast have recently been investigated as potential biomarkers of breast cancer. Using fast diffuse NIR spectroscopy our group has demonstrated the non-invasive estimation of breast tissue blood flow and oxygen consumption. Consequently, we have designed an integrated MRI-optical breast compression platform for simultaneous acquisition of MR and optical images. MR scans provide structural prior information for optical reconstructions, as well as hemodynamic (BOLD) images for cross-validation against optically measured deoxy-hemoglobin. We describe the MRI breast compression platform and present initial results demonstrating contrast between the BOLD signal evolution in fibro-glandular vs. adipose tissue.