Science contribution for #HUGS4JUGS
Before magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) there was nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The nuclear part refers to a nucleus of an atom not radioactivity. As the name implies, NMR spectroscopy acquires complete spectra, typically of protons. MRI however, typically (in simple terms), collects just one data point of the NMR spectrum.
The figure below from my awesome colleague Dr. Fan et al, demonstrates conventional breast MRI and new High Spectral and Spatial (HiSS) MRI developed in our lab by my dear boss Prof. Karczmar. HiSS MRI is acquired using Echo Planar Spectroscopic Imaging (EPSI), which is a 4D MRI technique. So for each spatial location (3D) we collect the entire spectrum (like NMR spectroscopy).
So why is that important? MRI gets its signal from protons, predominately from water and fat. Since women’s breast contain fat, the signal from fat is often suppressed to better visualize the parenchyma and lesion (if present).
The image below shows conventional fat suppressed MRI along the top row and HiSS MRI along the bottom row. The columns left to right display decreasing contrast in the conventional image. It’s fairly easy to see that the HiSS images have better contrast and therefore make it easier to identify the lesion. Recall the entire spectrum is collected with HiSS. So one can manipulate the spectral data to attempt to characterize benign and cancerous lesions. The images shown here are just the peak of the water spectra.
As we make improvements in imaging, we make improvements in diagnosing and following response to therapy for breast cancer. I think it is difficult to find a single person who does not no anyone that has been affected by cancer. As the experience of cancer’s effect becomes more personal, it drives researchers like me, to work towards better outcomes.
I wanted to get some science in to feebly attempt to counter all the booby jokes/pics.
Fat suppression with spectrally selective inversion vs. high spectral and spatial resolution MRI of breast lesions: qualitative and quantitative comparisons.
J Magn Reson Imaging. 2006 Dec;24(6):1311-5.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17096393
#scienceeveryday
I so appreciate you and your colleagues medical research in this area! I lost a dear friend & former roommate to breast cancer, another friend who underwent treatment & reconstructive surgery last year & another friend/colleague who is waiting results this week. Thank you Chad Haney!!!
Same here, Mary Owens . I have a scientific sister who is starting chemo this week. Chad Haney , do you know much about microcalcifications? Some of the basic research we are doing shows an enormous dysregulation of calcium transporters and receptors in tumors and we are wondering if these contribute to those signature microcalcifications seen on mammary radiographs.
Rajini Rao I’m not directly involved with the breast imaging. I’m more prostate and not because I’m a dude. I don’t know much about microcalcification but we do have a manuscript going out showing preliminary work where our HiSS-MRI can differentiate between calcium hydroxyapatite and calcium oxalate.
Chad Haney , that’s an important distinction. Hydroxyapatite is associated with tumors and malignancy and the oxalate is not. I need to read up on this.
Rajini Rao I finished updating my post, hopefully not too late for you.
Thanks, reading it now!
Chad Haney , I can see how the fat can obscure the tumor, but what is the basis for suppression of the proton signal from fat (how is the signal different from water, if that is not too difficult to explain)?
The peak signal from fat is at a different frequency.The conventional methods for fat suppression assume fat is at a particular frequency for the field strength being used and sends a fat saturating pulse prior to acquiring the image. It doesn’t work in heterogeneous volumes (like breast and prostate). The spectra can overlap so it’s not a simple task to just “tune” it away.
Thanks, Chad Haney . That makes sense now.
I have been fortunate. I underwent about 14 biopsies in the past 4 Years cause I’m at high risk for cancer. Its important to get checked the second you feel anything in your body.
The earlier you are detected, the better you have of a chance to fight it.