Design of a Stereotaxic RF Breast Biopsy Coil for MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has detected breast lesions that had previously beensub-clinical (neither palpable nor detected by x-ray mammography). However, MRI's 40% false positivedetection rate necessitates biopsy of these sub-clinical lesions to confirm diagnosis. No device existsthat would allow this procedure to be performed without open biopsy. Therefore, we will design a radiofrequency (rf) receiver coil for breast MR imaging with integrated stereotaxic capabilities. This coilwould perform dual roles: receiving signal from the breast to form an MR image, and allowing MRimaging-guided biopsy and needle localizations. This coil will be a modification of the 3-turn solenoidalbreast coil Tl03, designed by the PI, and currently in clinical use on the l.5-tesla GE Signa imager of MRImaging center. Coil T103 is IRB approved; FDA approval is expected later this year. Fifteen hundredcenters in the U.S. alone indicate commercial application potential for this biopsy coil.