Magnetization Transfer Rate & Amide Proton Transfer of Dissected Axillary Lymph Nodes of Breast Cancer Patients at 7T MRI

Mies A. Korteweg¹, Daniel L. Polders¹, Willem P. Th. M. Mali¹, Peter R. Luijten¹, Jaco J. M. Zwanenburg¹, Wouter B. Veldhuis¹

This study explores the possibility of utilizing high resolution magnetization transfer (MT) and chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) measurements on a clinical 7T MR system as a tool to discriminate healthy from metastatic dissected lymph nodes of breast cancer patients. The results were verified by detailed pathology analyses. Similar quantitative values for both APT and MTR in normal lymph node tissue as compared to metastatic lymph node tissue were found. This could be the result of the ex vivo condition of the tissue or due to a lack of differences in cellular density in these dissected nodes.