Table 1 MRI techniques used in the centers

1

1.5 T scanner (Sonata, Siemens, Erlangen, Germany)

Single-Shot Echo Planar sequence: -TR/TE: 5000/110 ms,

-FOV: 320 mm,

-matrix: 128 × 128,

-slice thickness: 3.5-mm,

− 0.7-mm slice gap,

-b values: 0–1000 s/mm²

-Manual placed multiple ROIs;

-measure by one radiologist with 10 years of experience in breast imaging;

-cystic or necrotic portions of the tumour were avoided.

2

3.0 T scanner (Magnetom Verio, Siemens, Germany)

Single-Shot Echo Planar sequence: -TR/TE: 7000/85 ms,

-FOV: 104 × 320 mm,

-matrix 220 × 72,

-slice thickness: 6 mm;

b values: 50–1000 s/mm²

-Manual placed multiple ROIs (whole tumor measure);

-measure by one radiologist;

-cystic or necrotic portions of the tumour were avoided.

3

1.5 T scanner (GE Healthcare, Milwaukee, WI, USA)

single-shot echoplanar image:

-TR/TE: 7000/85 ms;

-FOV 340 × 340 mm,

-matrix: 128× 128,

slice thickness: 4 mm,

b values: 0–900 s/mm²

-Manual placed ROI (single ROI measure);

-measure by one radiologist with 13 years of experience in breast imaging;

-cystic or necrotic portions of the tumour were avoided.

4

3 T scanner (Achieva Tx, Philips Healthcare, Best, Netherlands)

single-shot echoplanar image with fat suppression (spectral attenuated inversion recovery):

-TR/TE: 53367000/ 61 ms,

-matrix: 240 × 240,

-FOV: 360 × 360 mm,

-slice thickness: 5 mm,

-b values: 0–800 s/mm²

-Manual placed ROI (single ROI measure);

-measure by one radiologist with 5 years of experience in breast MR imaging;

-cystic or necrotic portions of the tumour were avoided.

5

3 T scanner (Trio Tim, Siemens, Erlangen, Germany)

Single-Shot Echo Planar sequence: -TR/TE: 6600/91 ms,

- matrix: 192 × 134,

-FOV: 320x320mm,

-slice thickness: 2 mm,

b values: 0–1000 s/mm²

-Manual placed ROI (single ROI measure),

-ADC measure by two radiologists with 5 and 2 years of experience in breast MRI in consensus,

-cystic or necrotic portions of the tumour were avoided.