Emerging and Novel Technologies in Breast Imaging: MRI, DWI, and AI Innovations (Advanced) (2025)-T1-CBR06-2025

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The session on emerging breast MRI technologies featured three talks on abbreviated MRI, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and AI.<br /><br />Christiane Kuhl explained that although more women could benefit from breast MRI (high familial risk, dense breasts, and AI-identified mammographic “screening failure” risk), MRI remains underused in Europe. Abbreviated MRI aims to increase access by simplifying protocols (“keep it simple and short”) and focusing on the key screening question: is cancer present? She argued the essential sequence is early post-contrast dynamic imaging; her FAST approach uses one pre- and one early post-contrast acquisition plus a rapid MIP for quick reading, with diagnostic accuracy comparable to full multiparametric MRI. Because very short scans don’t solve workflow bottlenecks (patient on/off scanner) and can reduce radiologist confidence, “abridged” protocols add limited sequences (e.g., T2, DWI) for a ~5-minute exam. She also reviewed “ultrafast” imaging and presented data suggesting it is not clinically superior to well-timed conventional DCE (≤60s temporal resolution), can blur morphology, and adds complexity.<br /><br />Savannah Partridge reviewed DWI fundamentals, showing malignancies often have restricted diffusion and low ADC. DWI can improve specificity and reduce benign biopsies using ADC cutoffs, supports prognosis and therapy response assessment, and is being studied for non-contrast screening, though sensitivity remains below contrast MRI. She emphasized standardization, QC, and technical advances (multi-shot EPI, deep learning recon, synthetic contrast, advanced diffusion models).<br /><br />Pascale Balzer cautioned against hype, arguing added complexity often doesn’t improve real-world accuracy, and stressed user expertise, workflow, AI triage/acceleration, contrast reduction, and novel coil designs to ease lesion localization and biopsy pathways.

Keywords

abbreviated breast MRI

FAST protocol

dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE)

diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI)

apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC)

ultrafast breast MRI

non-contrast MRI screening

AI-assisted breast imaging

workflow optimization and protocol standardization