Background: Breast MRI is a valuable tool, especially for women with dense breasts, but its visualization of all local lymph nodes is limited.

Purpose: To demonstrate a breast MRI technique using a body coil on the back in addition to a breast surface coil to improve imaging of the breast and locoregional lymph nodes.

Materials and Methods:

• Breast MRI performed with a dedicated surface coil AND a second coil on the back.

• Prone position.

• High spatial resolution ("MIO Breast MRI").

• Total examination time: 8:32 minutes for the breast MRI portion.

• Included T2 measurement and dynamic T1 sequences (before and twice after 5 ml gadobutrol – a first-pass technique).

• Additional coronal fat-suppressed T1 VIBE DIXON sequence:

  • 52 slices, 3mm thickness

  • Matrix 320 x 240

  • TR 4.2ms, TE 1.34/2.57ms

  • FOV 420mm

  • Measurement time: 16 seconds

Results: The "sandwich technique" (breast coil + body coil) enabled detection of breast carcinomas AND imaging of axillary, infra-, supraclavicular, and parasternal lymph nodes. Total measurement time was 8:48 minutes (8:32 breast MRI + 16 seconds for lymph nodes). Optional lymph node imaging before contrast agent administration could be done in an additional 16 seconds.

Conclusion: Combining breast and body surface coils provides high-quality breast MRI and sufficient imaging of all locoregional lymph nodes in under 10 minutes. This is particularly useful for preoperative local MR staging.