Evaluation of Individual T1w-DIXON Contrasts for Subtraction Generation in Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Breast MRI

Christian SM, Bickelhaupt S, Hadler D, Kapsner L, Uder M, Laun FB, Ohlmeyer S (2026)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2026

Journal

Diagnostics MDPI

Book Volume: 16

Article Number: 1145

Journal Issue: 8

DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics16081145

Abstract

Background/Objectives: To evaluate the influence of different DIXON contrasts on the quality of subtraction images in dynamic breast MRI using maximum intensity projections (MIPs). Methods: This retrospective study included n = 40 women (median age: 53.5 years, range 23–83) undergoing clinically indicated breast MRI (3T). For each MRI examination, two independent readers individually evaluated GBCA-enhanced subtraction MIPS for different timepoints (n = 5) and DIXON contrasts (n = 4) per breast, resulting in a total of 800 individual evaluations. Evaluations comprised (a) qualitative measures, using Likert-scores for artefact strength, breast parenchyma visibility, lesion visibility and reading confidence; and (b) signal intensity, measured in three regions of interest with the apparent signal-to-noise ratio (aSNR) and apparent contrast-to-noise ratio (aCNR) calculated. The evaluation results were analysed to identify differences between DIXON contrasts. Results: The “only water” DIXON contrast at ~120s after GBCA injection achieved the highest lesion conspicuity and reading confidence scores and lowest artefact scores; however, its performance was not statistically significant (p > 0.05) compared to the “in-phase” and “opposed-phase” subtractions. The aCNR at the second timepoint was slightly, but not significantly (p > 0.05), lower than the first timepoint, whilst aSNR increased significantly from the first to second timepoint in all contrasts. Conclusions: Subtraction MIPs derived from the “only water” DIXON contrast achieved the highest qualitative scoring for lesion conspicuity and confidence, with the aSNR increasing and aCNR decreasing between the first and second timepoints.

Authors with CRIS profile

Sebastian Bickelhaupt Institute of Radiology Dominique Hadler Institute of Radiology Lorenz Kapsner Institute of Radiology Michael Uder Lehrstuhl für Diagnostische Radiologie Frederik Bernd Laun Professur für quantitative MR-Bildgebung Sabine Ohlmeyer Institute of Radiology

Involved external institutions

Klinikum Darmstadt DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Christian, S.M., Bickelhaupt, S., Hadler, D., Kapsner, L., Uder, M., Laun, F.B., & Ohlmeyer, S. (2026). Evaluation of Individual T1w-DIXON Contrasts for Subtraction Generation in Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Breast MRI. Diagnostics, 16(8). https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics16081145

MLA:

Christian, Shirley Maria, et al. "Evaluation of Individual T1w-DIXON Contrasts for Subtraction Generation in Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Breast MRI." Diagnostics 16.8 (2026).

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