DWI can streamline breast MR exams

Breast MR is the most sensitive test for breast lesion detection and outperforms conventional imaging with mammography, digital breast tomosynthesis or ultrasound.¹ However, the long scan time and relatively high costs limit its widespread use. That’s why a joint German-Austrian study published in European Radiology revealed some good news for women undergoing breast MR. The study reported that diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) can be used to streamline breast MR protocols, which could translate into shorter exams. The team led by Matthias Dietzel, a radiologist from University Hospital Erlangen in Germany, found the protocol can be safely abbreviated by using DWI instead of delayed- phase enhancement.