Development of a clinically applicable matching tool between MRI and close-up X-ray mammograms for the purpose of MRI-matching guided stereotactic breast biopsy

• Applicant: Dr. Torsten Hopp
• Subject Area: Medical Physics, Biomedical Technology
• Term: from 2019 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 418685591

The aim of this D-A-CH proposal is to establish a novel method for matching magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and close-up stereotactic biopsy X-ray mammograms based on accurate simulation of the biomechanics of the female breast, which could improve the cost-effectiveness of the work-up of MRI-detected breast lesions up to 50%. We aim to transfer information of lesions only visible in MRI onto mammographic close-up projection views with sufficient registration accuracy to fit a mammogram-based lesion workup and thereby reduce the need for costly and time-consuming MRI biopsies. The challenges of such a registration are to model the substantial non-linear deformations of the breast undergoing mammographic compression, to cope with patient-specific variabilities of the compression process due to individual positioning and to match the MRI information to close-up mammography views performed during stereotactical biopsy, which do not cover the complete breast. For accurate prediction of a lesion position in these views in a clinical setting, it is essential to identify the required complexity of a biomechanical model overcoming the non-linear deformation while at the same time serving clinical needs in both registration accuracy and computation time. Moreover, it is important to identify and consider factors influencing matching accuracy like anatomical, clinical or biomechanical features. In this proposed project we will address these research questions by means of patient specific biomechanical models to simulate the deformation of the breast undergoing mammographic breast compression. The project will investigate the clinical feasibility of X-ray guided biopsy, which is planned based on MRI findings only by developing the necessary software and workflow while considering the clinical relevance of matching accuracies and workflow speed. The project will provide a final method which can directly be implemented into clinical practice. Our research team at KIT and MUW provides combined experience with respect to technical aspects of breast image registration and clinical needs of diagnostic breast imaging and intervention. The research in this proposal will provide new insights in the clinical application of biomechanically driven breast image registration, enable a cost reduction of up to 50%, address the shortage of facilities performing MRI-guided interventions and thus considerably facilitate and fasten work-up of patients with MRI-detected breast lesions.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Austria
• Partner Organisation: Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung (FWF)
• Cooperation Partner: Privatdozent Dr. Pascal Andreas Thomas Baltzer