Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Breast Cancer

In vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) is rapidly becoming useful as a clinical tool for diagnosing and characterizing breast cancers. Alterations of the levels of choline-containing metabolites are associated with malignancy. High-field MR scanners at 1.5 T, 3 T, 4 T, and 7 T have been used to evaluate the role of 1H MRS measurements of total choline-containing compounds in patients with breast cancer. This article will review clinical use of MRI/MRS in vivo. Newer developments in high field MR scanning and quantitative MRS may help breast imagers improve sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing and treating breast cancer.