BREAST CANCER

BREAST CANCER

Ouline

Introduction4

Breast Cancer4

Symptoms of Breast Cancer5

Mammography6

Discussion7

Usage of 3T MRI and its History7

Benefits of MRI10

MRI is a Mature Technology10

Ability to Scan with a Strength of 3T10

Clinical Application of 3T MRI in Breast Cancer Treatment11

Current MRI Systems in Clinical Practice12

Magnetic Susceptibility12

Conclusion13

References17

Abstract

The most important physical symptom of breast cancer is a painless mass. Up to 10% of patients, however, have breast pain and no mass. Less common symptoms include persistent changes to the breast, such as thickening, swelling, skin irritation or distortion, and nipple symptoms, including spontaneous discharge, erosion, inversion, or tenderness. Early breast cancer, when it is most treatable, typically does not produce any symptoms.

Early detection of breast cancer greatly improves the treatment options, the chances for successful treatment, and survival. Guidelines for the early detection of breast cancer change with age and include mammography, clinical breast examination (CBE), and breast self-examination (BSE).

Because a small percentage of cancers may be missed by mammography, it is very important that women aged 40 and older also perform monthly BSE and have an annual CBE. If symptoms develop after a recent, normal mammogram, women should not assume that it is nothing to worry about; rather, they should contact their doctors immediately. Likewise, a palpable mass that is not seen on a diagnostic mammogram does not rule out breast cancer; instead, it simply means that other diagnostic tests will need to be considered.

Breast Cancer

Introduction

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an imaging technique that uses a magnetic field and radio waves to image the body. The MRI modality differs from X-ray imaging because MRI does not use iodizing radiation to produce images. The advent of MRI technology has resulted in considerable medical advances, because clinicians have been able to arrive at more precise diagnoses and provide more focused disease management in many therapeutic areas, including orthopedics, oncology, and neurology. The imaging field is constantly advancing, and radiologists may soon have the option to switch from traditional MRI machines to those that offer greater field strength. As the availability of the stronger 3 Tesla (3T) MRI appears on the horizon, radiologists are faced with the process of weighing the pros and cons of adopting this newer technology. This article will review the benefits and limitations of using 3T MRI in the clinical setting, addressing important issues in specific clinical applications. (DeLano, 2006, 126)

Breast Cancer

Cancers are a group of diseases that cause cells in the body to change and grow out of control. Most types of cancer cells form a lump or mass called a tumor, and are named after the part of the body where the tumor first starts. (Kerlikowske, 1997, 63)

Breast cancer begins in breast tissue, which is made up of glands for milk production, called lobules, and the ducts that connect lobules to the nipple. The remainder of the breast is made up of fatty, connective, and lymphatic tissue. (Leitch, 1997, 69)

Most types of tumors that form in the breast are benign; that is, they are not cancer at ...