Breast Cancer Protocols: Technical Notes 1

GENERAL

• Tape vitamin E capsule on nipples

• Load injector with 1.5 dose (0.15 mmol/kg) gadolinium

• Position patient in breast coil - Landmark - run table through Bore - attach IV - then advance to scan

• Scan the breast(s) ordered (RT, LT or BOTH) but always do BOTH breasts together on dynamic Sag FSPGR

• Pre gad T1W FS then post gad series at 20s, 3min and 6min

• Separate Left from Right Breast images if doing bilateral

• Do not use an oblique angle for any series. They must be kept straight for repeatability.

• Always prescribe breasts left to right

• Scan one breast at a time for series 3,4 & 5

• Scan Dynamic series BILATERALLY all in one series (do NOT separate Left and Right in PACS)

BILATERAL BREASTS

• Scan 1 breast at a time for the T1 and T2 series (each a separate series to make sending lefts and rights easier to send to PACS).

• Be sure to label each series as Left or Right breast.

• Scan dynamics bilaterally all in one series and send to PACS together (label, but do not separate left and right).

• Scan left to right always.

• Scan post gad axials at end of study in a separate series and send to PACS separately lefts then rights with labels.

SINGLE BREAST

• T1W and T2W series of affected breast only. Continue to scan both breasts for dynamic series only.

• Do not separate lefts and rights for dynamics.

• Label lefts and rights for all series including dynamics.