Table 1 Comparison between the strengths and the drawbacks of the contrast-based techniques used for breast imaging
Contrast mammography | MRI protocol | |
|---|---|---|
Contrast | IV water soluble 1.5–2 mL/kg | IV Gadolinium Gadopentate 0.1 mmol/k |
Patient position | Erect | Prone |
Sequences/positions | A pair of low- and high-energy images in the standard CC and MLO views | Pre-contrast T1 and T2WI Post-contrast dynamic and subtraction sequences |
Dynamic sequences | No | Yes |
Subtraction | Post-contrast low from high-energy images | Pre- from post-contrast images |
Additional mammogram needed | No | Yes |
Exam time | 7–10 min | 10–20 min |
Interpretation time | Faster than MRI | 10 min |
Irradiation exposure | Yes | No |
Contraindications | Pregnancy Renal impairment Allergy to contrast medium | Pregnancy Renal impairment Claustrophobia Unable to lie prone Incompatible devices Body weight Allergy with known anaphylactic shock (less common than CEM) |
Risk from contrast | Allergy | No reported significant risk |
Incorporation into daily practice | Yes | No |
Cost | Low cost | Higher cost (as the used contrast media is expensive, the printed number of films is higher, the duration of the machine exhaustion is longer and an additional cost of mammogram may be needed) |