Thanks Jean,

> Some ultrasound texts and articles, and some embryology and a few medical
> texts about breast development and breast disease form most of the basis
> for the small amount I know about the enormous subject of breast
> structure at different stages in life. Remember, the breast is the only
> organ that is not completely developed at birth.

It seems strange that information on this is so thin on the ground. I
suspect that if anyone knows what is 'out there' it would be you.

> That being said, I believe MRI is done with actual x-rays, whereas
> ultrasound is not. For that reason alone, I would think one would only
> "research" with MRI if there were a legitimate need for diagnostic
> information. Too much potential for tissue destruction/tumor formation
> with repeated exposure to x-rays I have heard. Curiosity is not
> sufficient reason to take this risk.

Actually MRI uses a magnetic field through which radio waves are directed.
As far as I am aware there are no demonstrated ill effects and it is used
for research (a technician I was speaking to was looking at minor brain
damage- he used a cohort of young jockeys, someone suggested boxers to him
and he said that they did not sustain minor damage the damage was too great
to look at for their study!)


Volunteer pregnant and lactating
> models, anyone? Maybe not just kidding.)

 A colleague of mine is very keen for me to have another baby so that MRI
could be used to look at the suckling of a new baby via this method since it
can be used to visualise flow! I really think that there is a real
possibility that this technique could be used to help us understand the
development of the breast.

Karleen Gribble
Australia

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