The effect of k-space sampling patterns on contrast agent uptake curves in dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI of the breast

Here we propose a novel method to assess the effect of different k-space sampling patterns on contrast agent uptake curves (CAUCs), which does not require specialist equipment. These effects on CAUCs are often overlooked, and must be addressed in the context of the many different national and international recommendations, and the prominence given to abbreviated DCE protocols. We validated the method to assess different k-space sampling patterns and used it to simulate the effect on contrast-agent uptake curves. We show that conventional protocols acquiring each frame in approximately 60s have more robust CAUC classification than abbreviated protocols.