BREVIA
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Breast tumour size measurement by Field Cycling Imaging
IRAS ID
363210
Contact name
Vasiliki Mallikourti
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Aberdeen
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 10 days
Research summary
Breast cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer among women worldwide, with 20-25% being Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) cases. The current NHS protocol for detecting and localising breast cancer, particularly DCIS, relies on mammography and ultrasound, which often fail to accurately determine lesion size. MRI offers better accuracy but still misses 17% of DCIS cases and is not standard practice. Inaccurate lesion sizing can lead to incomplete removal during surgery, requiring repeat procedures and increasing patient risk.
Field Cycling Imaging (FCI) is an innovative imaging technology which changes the magnetic field strength during the imaging process. This modulation provides unique endogenous contrast mechanisms unavailable with traditional MRI which inform about the molecular environment and tissue properties.
This study introduces FCI as a supplementary, non-invasive imaging method to improve DCIS localisation. FCI could enhance surgical planning, reduce repeat operations, lower patient anxiety, and cut costs by eliminating the need for contrast agents and decreasing overall healthcare burden. The aim of the study is to estimate the lesion size using FCI and compared it with 3T MRI data and histology.
REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/NW/0355
Date of REC Opinion
4 Dec 2025
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion