Saturation-recovery Snapshot Flash Reduces Rf Pulse Angle Inhomogeneity Artefacts in Dce-mri of the Breast at 3t

INTRODUCTION Radiofrequency (RF) pulse angle inhomogeneity is a significant problem in breast MRI at 3T. Dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-MRI of the breast with FLASH is susceptible to this RF inhomogeneity, and results in errors in the measurement of tumour enhancement ratio (ER) [1], where ER is a function of changes in relaxation rate (ΔR1) and represents contrast agent concentration in the tissue. We have previously shown that saturation-recovery snapshot FLASH (SRSF) (Fig. 1a) reduces the errors in ER when complete saturation is achieved [2]. Extending this work, the aim of this study was to access the effectiveness of Hoffmann's method of saturation [3] in the presence of RF pulse angle inhomogeneity. This was done by performing a simulated DCE-MRI study and calculating ER.