Abstract #5159

A Steady State T1rho-weighted Sequence for Breast MRI at Ultra-low Field (6.5 mT)

Sheng Shen^1,2, Neha Koonjoo^1,2, Mansi A. Saksena³, Stephen E. Ogier^4,5, Kalina V. Jordanova⁴, Kathryn E. Keenan⁴, and Matthew S. Rosen^1,2,6

¹Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States, ²Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States, ³Division of Breast Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States, ⁴Physical Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO, United States, ⁵Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States, ⁶Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States

Synopsis

Keywords: Breast, Acquisition Methods, Low-field MRI

Motivation: Ultra-low field (ULF) MRI is a cost-effective and accessible technology, making it a promising option for breast cancer screening. T1rho, which reflects macromolecular dynamics, shows potential as a biomarker for identifying lesions. Implementing T1rho-weighted MRI at ultra-low fields could pave the way for non-contrast breast screening methods.

Goal(s): To achieve T1rho-weighted breast MRI with high SNR and efficient scanning at ULF.

Approach: We developed a sequence that incorporates a balanced spin-lock module within the bSSFP sequence to enable steady-state T1rho-weighted imaging.

Results: The new steady state T1rho-weighted sequence has demonstrated the T1rho contribution to the contrast in phantom imaging, and in participant imaging.

Impact: T1rho, reflecting macromolecular dynamics, is a valuable biomarker for tumor imaging. Our study aims to improve the performance of T1rho-weighted MRI at ultra-low field, providing a potential non-contrast approach for breast cancer screening.

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