A Multiomics Signature Highlights Alterations Underlying Homologous Recombination Deficiency in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Homologous recombination (HR) is a key pathway in DNA double-strand damage repair. HR deficiency (HRD) occurs more commonly in triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) than in other breast cancer subtypes. Several clinical trials have demonstrated the value of HRD in stratifying breast cancer patients into distinct groups based on their responses to poly(ADP ribose) polymerase inhibitors and chemotherapy. METHODS: We retrospectively collected TNBC samples to establish a multiomics cohort (n = 343) and explored the biological and phenotypic mechanisms underlying the better prognosis of patients with high HRD scores. Gene set enrichment analysis was conducted to elucidate the underlying pathways in patients with low HRD scores, and a radiomics model was established to predict the HRD score via a noninvasive method. RESULTS: Multivariable Cox analysis revealed the independent prognostic value of a low HRD score (hazard ratio 2.20, 95% confidence interval 1.05-4.59; p = 0.04). Furthermore, amino acid and lipid metabolism pathways were highly enriched in tumors from patients with low HRD scores, which was also demonstrated by differential abundant metabolite analysis. A noninvasive radiomics method was developed to predict the HRD status and it performed well in the independent validation cohort (support vector machine model: area under the curve [AUC] 0.739, sensitivity 0.571, and specificity 0.824; logistic regression model: AUC 0.695, sensitivity 0.571, and specificity 0.882). CONCLUSIONS: We revealed the prognostic value of the HRD score, predicted the HRD status with noninvasive radiomics features, and preliminarily explored druggable targets for TNBC patients with low HRD scores.

The Value of Whole-Tumor Histogram and Texture Analysis Using Intravoxel Incoherent Motion in Differentiating Pathologic Subtypes of Locally Advanced Gastric Cancer.

PURPOSE: To determine if whole-tumor histogram and texture analyses using intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) parameters values could differentiate the pathologic characteristics of locally advanced gastric cancer. METHODS: Eighty patients with histologically confirmed locally advanced gastric cancer who received surgery in our institution were retrospectively enrolled into our study between April 2017 and December 2018. Patients were excluded if they had lesions with the smallest diameter < 5 mm and severe image artifacts. MR scanning included IVIM sequences (9 b values, 0, 20, 40, 60, 100, 150,200, 500, and 800 s/mm2) used in all patients before treatment. Whole tumors were segmented by manually drawing the lesion contours on each slice of the diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) images (with b=800). Histogram and texture metrics for IVIM parameters values and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were measured based on whole-tumor volume analyses. Then, all 24 extracted metrics were compared between well, moderately, and poorly differentiated tumors, and between different Lauren classifications, signet-ring cell carcinomas, and other poorly cohesive carcinomas using univariate analyses. Multivariate logistic analyses and multicollinear tests were used to identify independent influencing factors from the significant variables of the univariate analyses to distinguish tumor differentiation and Lauren classifications. ROC curve analyses were performed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of these independent influencing factors for determining tumor differentiation and Lauren classifications and identifying signet-ring cell carcinomas. The interobserver agreement was also conducted between the two observers for image quality evaluations and parameter metric measurements. RESULTS: For diagnosing tumor differentiation, the ADCmedian, pure diffusion coefficient median (Dslowmedian), and pure diffusion coefficient entropy (Dslowentropy) showed the greatest AUCs: 0.937, 0.948, and 0.850, respectively, and no differences were found between the three metrics, P>0.05). The 95th percentile perfusion factor (FP P95th) was the best metric to distinguish diffuse-type GCs vs. intestinal/mixed (AUC=0.896). The ROC curve to distinguish signet-ring cell carcinomas from other poorly cohesive carcinomas showed that the Dslowmedian had AUC of 0.738. For interobserver reliability, image quality evaluations showed excellent agreement (interclass correlation coefficient [ICC]=0.85); metrics measurements of all parameters indicated good to excellent agreement (ICC=0.65-0.89), except for the Dfast metric, which showed moderate agreement (ICC=0.41-0.60). CONCLUSIONS: The whole-tumor histogram and texture analyses of the IVIM parameters based on the biexponential model provided a non-invasive method to discriminate pathologic tumor subtypes preoperatively in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer. The metric FP P95th derived from IVIM performed better in determining Lauren classifications than the mono-exponential model.

Development of MRI-Based Radiomics Model to Predict the Risk of Recurrence in Patients With Advanced High-Grade Serous Ovarian Carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of our study was to develop a radiomics model based on preoperative MRI and clinical information for predicting recurrence-free survival (RFS) in patients with advanced high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC). MATERIALS AND METHODS. This retrospective study enrolled 117 patients with HGSOC, including 90 patients with recurrence and 27 without recurrence; 1046 radiomics features were extracted from T2-weighted images and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images using a manual segmentation method. L1 regularization-based least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was performed to select features, and the synthetic minority oversampling technique (SMOTE) was used to balance our dataset. A support vector machine (SVM) classifier was used to build the classification model. To validate the performance of the proposed models, we applied a leave-one-out cross-validation method to train and test the classifier. Cox proportional hazards regression, Harrell concordance index (C-index), and Kaplan-Meier plots analysis were used to evaluate the associations between radiomics signatures and RFS. RESULTS. The fusion radiomics-based model yielded a significantly higher AUC value of 0.85 in evaluating RFS than the model using contrast-enhanced T1-weighted imaging features alone or T2-weighted imaging features alone (AUC = 0.79 and 0.74 and p = .02 and .01, respectively). Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed significant differences between high and low recurrence risk in patients with HGSOC by different models. The fusion model combining radiomics features and clinical information showed higher performance than the clinical model (C-index = 0.62 and 0.60, respectively). CONCLUSION. The proposed MRI-based radiomics signatures may provide a potential way to develop a prediction model and can help identify patients with advanced HGSOC who have a high risk of recurrence.

Genome-wide analysis of hippocampal transfer RNA-derived small RNAs identifies new potential therapeutic targets of Bushen Tiansui formula against Alzheimer's disease.

OBJECTIVE: Bushen Tiansui formula (BSTSF), a traditional Chinese medicine prescription, has been widely used to treat Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the mechanisms underlying its effects remain largely unknown. In this study, a rat AD model was used to study the effects of BSTSF on cognitive performance and expression of transfer RNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) in the hippocampus, to determine whether treatment of AD with BSTSF could regulate the expression of tsRNAs, a novel small non-coding RNA. METHODS: To generate a validated AD model, oligomeric amyloid-ß1-42 (Aß1-42) was injected intracerebroventricularly into rats. The Morris water maze (MWM) test was used to evaluate rat cognitive performance, and tsRNA-sequencing was conducted to examine tsRNA expression in the rat hippocampus. Potential targets were validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Bioinformatic analyses were conducted to investigate the biological function of candidate tsRNAs. RESULTS: The learning and memory deficits of Aß1-42-induced AD rats, assessed by MWM tests, were clearly ameliorated by BSTSF treatment. A total of 387 tsRNAs were detected in the rat hippocampus. Among them, 13 were significantly dysregulated in AD rats compared with sham control rats, while 57 were markedly altered by BSTSF treatment, relative to untreated AD rats (fold change ≥ 2 and P < 0.05). Moreover, six BSTSF treatment-related tsRNAs were identified and validated by qRT-PCR. Bioinformatic analyses indicated that the six treatment-related tsRNAs had potential therapeutic roles, via multiple signaling pathways and Gene Ontology biological functions, including cyclic adenosine monophosphate and retrograde endocannabinoid signaling. CONCLUSION: This study identified a previously uncharacterized mechanism underlying the effects of BSTSF in alleviating the learning and memory deficits in Aß1-42-induced AD rats, demonstrating that tsRNAs are potential therapeutic targets of BSTSF in the treatment of AD.

Quantitative dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging for the preliminary prediction of the response to gemcitabine-based chemotherapy in advanced pancreatic ductal carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To investigate the role of the quantitative parameters of dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging (DCE-MRI) in the prediction of the response to chemotherapy in pancreatic ductal carcinoma (PDC). METHOD: Forty patients with histologically confirmed PDC who underwent quantitative DCE-MRI were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were divided into groups of responders and nonresponders. DCE-MRI parameters, including the volume transfer constant (Ktrans), the extracellular extravascular volume fraction (ve), the rate constant (kep) and the initial area under the concentration curve in 60 s (iAUC60), were measured and compared. DCE-MRI parameters were obtained from different ROIs. RESULTS: The values of Ktrans in responders with peripheral, whole tumor slice, and adjacent non-tumorous region ROIs were significantly higher than those in nonresponders (P = 0.015, 0.043, and 0.025, respectively). Responders showed a significantly higher kep with peripheral area ROI compared with nonresponders (P =  0.013). Ve and iAUC60 with all ROIs were not significantly different between responders and nonresponders (P = 0.140-0.968). Kep with periphery ROI showed the highest area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.806, but there were no statistical differences when compared with values of Ktrans.There were statistically significant differences for DCE-MRI parameters among four ROIs (all P <  0.05). All parameters showed good to excellent intra and interobserver agreement. CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative parameters derived from DCE-MRI might be a potential predictor of response to gemcitabine in patients with PDC. Perfusion parameters were diverse depending on the location of the ROI on different tumoral and peritumoral areas.

Gastric Hepatoid Adenocarcinoma: Differentiation From Gastric Adenocarcinoma With Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomographic Findings.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to describe the computed tomographic (CT) findings of gastric hepatoid adenocarcinoma (GHA) and determine features distinguishing it from gastric adenocarcinoma (GA). METHODS: Computed tomographic images of pathologically verified GHA (n = 11) and GA (n = 38) were retrospectively reviewed. α-Fetoprotein (AFP), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and CT findings were assessed in our study. Computed tomographic findings included the location, distribution, growth pattern, ulceration, thickness of gastric wall, enhancement pattern, and the ratio of lesion attenuation to aorta CT attenuation. Short diameter of the metastatic lymph nodes, mean short diameter of metastatic lymph nodes, and the ratio of the number of enlarged lymph node on CT to the number of metastatic lymph nodes pathologically were measured and calculated. Data were compared using the χ and Student t tests; significant CT criteria were identified using receiver operating characteristic curve. RESULTS: α-Fetoprotein, CEA, and CT findings, including the longest short diameter, the mean short diameter, the ratio of the number of enlarged lymph node on CT to the number of metastatic lymph nodes pathologically, the lesion in arterial phase minus portal venous phase, and the lesion/aorta ratio, were statistically significant predictors for the differentiation of GHA from GA (P < 0.05). When only the aforementioned CT findings were used as criteria, the sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing GHA were 82.86% and 90.91%, respectively. When AFP, CEA, and CT findings were used as criteria, sensitivity of 97.14% and specificity of 90.91% were achieved. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated serum AFP level and CT findings could distinguish GHA and GA with a high degree of accuracy.

Adrenal schwannoma: CT, MR manifestations and pathological correlation.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to describe the computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) imaging features of adrenal schwannoma and to correlate imaging findings with histopathologic findings. METHODS: The findings from multiphase CT or MRI examinations of seventeen patients with histopathologically confirmed adrenal schwannoma were reviewed. The imaging criteria included shape, size, margin, attenuation, signal intensity, secondary degeneration, and internal mass enhancement pattern. RESULTS: All cases were unilateral, round or oval solitary tumors, with diameters ranging from approximately 2.5 to 8.8 cm (median = 4.5 cm). Of the twelve cases assessed using CT, adrenal schwannoma appeared as well-circumscribed round or oval low-density suprarenal masses with a mean attenuation values of 30.1 HU of solid portions during unenhanced phase. Ten cases exhibited heterogeneous cyst formation, and one case showed calcification. Internal septa were noted in 5 cases. All solid areas displayed early mild heterogeneous enhancement and delayed progressive enhancement. Regarding MRI, solid portions of five masses were hypointense to the liver parenchyma on T1-weighted imaging (T1WI) and were heterogeneously hyperintense on T2-weighted imaging (T2WI). The enhanced pattern of solid areas of adrenal schwannoma on MRI is similar to that of CT. Cystic or hemorrhagic changes were noted in 4 cases and internal septa were noted in 3 cases. CONCLUSION: Although schwannoma is a rare entity in the adrenal gland, we believe that the following signs may suggest the diagnosis of this entity: a non-lipid containing mass, a well-defined border, a unilateral mass with cystic or hemorrhagic degeneration, septa with delayed enhancement and a characteristic progressive contrast enhancement pattern of the solid portions.

Feasibility of free-breathing dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI of gastric cancer using a golden-angle radial stack-of-stars VIBE sequence: comparison with the conventional contrast-enhanced breath-hold 3D VIBE sequence.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the feasibility and diagnostic value of free-breathing, radial, stack-of-stars three-dimensional (3D) gradient echo (GRE) sequence ("golden angle") on dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI of gastric cancer. METHODS: Forty-three gastric cancer patients were divided into cooperative and uncooperative groups. Respiratory fluctuation was observed using an abdominal respiratory gating sensor. Those who breath-held for more than 15 s were placed in the cooperative group and the remainder in the uncooperative group. The 3-T MRI scanning protocol included 3D GRE and conventional breath-hold VIBE (volume-interpolated breath-hold examination) sequences, comparing images quantitatively and qualitatively. DCE-MRI parameters from VIBE images of normal gastric wall and malignant lesions were compared. RESULTS: For uncooperative patients, 3D GRE scored higher qualitatively, and had higher SNRs (signal-to-noise ratios) and CNRs (contrast-to-noise ratios) than conventional VIBE quantitatively. Though 3D GRE images scored lower in qualitative parameters compared with conventional VIBE for cooperative patients, it provided images with fewer artefacts. DCE parameters differed significantly between normal gastric wall and lesions, with higher Ve (extracellular volume) and lower Kep (reflux constant) in gastric cancer. CONCLUSIONS: The free-breathing, golden-angle, radial stack-of-stars 3D GRE technique is feasible for DCE-MRI of gastric cancer. Dynamic enhanced images can be used for quantitative analysis of this malignancy. KEY POINTS: • Golden-angle radial stack-of-stars VIBE aids gastric cancer MRI diagnosis. • The 3D GRE technique is suitable for patients unable to suspend respiration. • Method scored higher in the qualitative evaluation for uncooperative patients. • The technique produced images with fewer artefacts than conventional VIBE sequence. • Dynamic enhanced images can be used for quantitative analysis of gastric cancer.

Digital breast tomosynthesis plus mammography, magnetic resonance imaging plus mammography and mammography alone: A comparison of diagnostic performance in symptomatic women.

PURPOSE: To compare the diagnostic efficiency of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) plus digital mammography (DM) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plus DM in symptomatic women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The protocol used in our study was accepted by the ethics committee at our hospital, and informed consent was obtained from all patients. Between June and December 2014, 197 patients with 238 histologically proven lesions all underwent DM, DBT and MRI. Two radiologists were responsible for interpreting all images according to the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS). The diagnostic performance of each method was assessed by receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were compared using McNemar's test and Fisher's exact test. A Kappa test was used to assess the interobserver agreement. RESULTS: The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was lower in the group that underwent DM alone (Radiologist1 [R1], 0.849; Radiologist2 [R2], 0.850) than in the group that underwent DBT plus DM (R1, 0.907, P = 0.0204; R2, 0.900, P = 0.0239) and MRI plus DM (R1, 0.939, P = 0.0006; R2, 0.935, P = 0.0009). However, the difference between the group that received DBT plus DM and the group that received MRI plus DM was not significant (R1, P = 0.1262; R2, P = 0.0843). The accuracy (R1, 71.8%; R2, 71.4%) and sensitivity (R1, 71.9%; R2, 71.2%) of DM were lower than those of DBT ((accuracy: R1, 85.3%, P = 0.001; R2, 83.6%, P < 0.001; sensitivity: R1,92.1%, P < 0.001; R2, 90.8%, P < 0.001) and MRI combined with DM (accuracy: R1, 90.3%, P = 0.001; R2, 90.7%, P < 0.001; sensitivity: R1, 94.7%, P < 0.001; R2, 95.4%, P < 0.001). In contrast, no significant difference was observed between DBT and MRI combined with DM (accuracy: R1, P = 0.644; R2, P = 0.360; sensitivity: R1, P = 0.502; R2, P = 0.359). The interobserver agreement of each method was excellent (k = 0.894 0.919 and 0.882 for DM, DBT and MRI combined with DM, respectively). CONCLUSION: The diagnostic performance of DBT and MRI combined with DM is superior to that of DM alone in symptomatic women; MRI plus DM is slightly better than that of DBT plus DM, but this difference was not statistically significant.

Changes of T2 Relaxation Time From Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer Lesions.

BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is generally an effective method of reducing locally advanced malignant breast lesions before surgery; assessing the tumor response to NAC is crucial for patient management. T2 relaxation times can reflect biological state of lesions, may prove useful to assess the response to NAC. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the lesion T2 relaxation times change in breast cancer neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: In total, 26 patients underwent NAC. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T2 mapping was performed before and after NAC. The T2 relaxation times were obtained by using Functool software on an AW 43 workstation. The treatment response was assessed according to the pathological response classification. We aimed to analyze the changes in the T2 relaxation times before and after NAC as well as to study the relationship between the response and the lesion T2 relaxation times after NAC. RESULTS: In 26 cases with NAC, the mean lesion T2 relaxation time before NAC was 81.34 ± 13.68 ms, compared with 64.50 ± 8.71 ms after NAC. Significant differences in the lesion T2 relaxation times existed between the pre- and post-NAC (P < 0.001) ; based on the pathology results, the mean lesion T2 relaxation times in 23 of the 26 responders (63.18 ± 8.37 ms) was shorter than in 3 of the 26 nonresponders (74.62 ± 2.32 ms) after NAC (P = 0.029). CONCLUSION: In breast cancer after NAC, the lesion T2 relaxation time was reduced in the responders, and this finding is potentially useful to assess the response to NAC.

Imaging Manifestation of Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Breast.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe the imaging features of adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the breast using multimode imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The findings from mammography, sonography, magnetic resonance imaging, or digital breast tomosynthesis in 11 patients with histopathologically confirmed ACC of the breast were reviewed. The imaging criteria included location, shape, size, number, margin, calcification, attenuation, echo and/or signal intensity, internal mass enhancement pattern, and dynamic-enhancement characteristics. RESULTS: On mammography (n = 9), ACC demonstrated as an irregular or lobulated mass with indistinct or spiculated margins. Sonographically (n = 11), ACCs appeared as a hypoechoic solid or heterogeneous mass with minimum vascularity on color Doppler examination. With regard to magnetic resonance imaging (n = 9), 2 of the largest masses had an extensive high T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) signal and hypointense internal septations, which demonstrated delayed enhancement. Dynamic enhancement illustrated washout kinetics. The 7 smaller masses appeared isointense on T2WI, and their internal septations were unenhanced. Among them, 5 demonstrated plateau kinetics and 2 demonstrated persistent kinetics. CONCLUSIONS: Although ACC is a rare event in the breast, we believe that the following signs may suggest the diagnosis of this entity: a well-defined border, extensive high T2WI signals, and internal septations that demonstrate delayed enhancement in larger lesions.

Electroacupuncture prevents cognitive impairments by regulating the early changes after brain irradiation in rats.

Cognitive impairments severely affect the quality of life of patients who undergo brain irradiation, and there are no effective preventive strategies. In this study, we examined the therapeutic potential of electroacupuncture (EA) administered immediately after brain irradiation in rats. We detected changes in cognitive function, neurogenesis, and synaptic density at different time points after irradiation, but found that EA could protect the blood-brain barrier (BBB), inhibit neuroinflammatory cytokine expression, upregulate angiogenic cytokine expression, and modulate the levels of neurotransmitter receptors and neuropeptides in the early phase. Moreover, EA protected spatial memory and recognition in the delayed phase. At the cellular/molecular level, the preventative effect of EA on cognitive dysfunction was not dependent on hippocampal neurogenesis; rather, it was related to synaptophysin expression. Our results suggest that EA applied immediately after brain irradiation can prevent cognitive impairments by protecting against the early changes induced by irradiation and may be a novel approach for preventing or ameliorating cognitive impairments in patients with brain tumors who require radiotherapy.

Utility of diffusion-weighted imaging to assess hepatocellular carcinoma viability following transarterial chemoembolization.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate whether diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) can be used to assess hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) viability following transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). A total of 41 consecutive patients were treated according to chemoembolization protocols. The follow-up was performed between six and eight weeks post-chemoembolization by multidetector computed tomography [or enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)] and DW-MRI on the same day. The presence of any residual tumor and the extent of tumor necrosis were evaluated according to the European Association for the Study of the Liver. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of the entire area of the treated mass and the vital and necrotic tumor tissues were recorded. Correlation coefficients were also calculated to compare the percentage of necrosis with ADC values. The mean ADC values of the necrotic and vital tumor tissues were 2.22±0.31×10-3 mm2/sec and 1.42±0.25×10-3 mm2/sec, respectively (Mann-Whitney U test, P<0.001). The results from the receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that the threshold ADC value was 1.84×10-3 mm2/sec with 92.3% sensitivity and 100% specificity for identifying the necrotic tumor tissues. A significant linear regression correlation was identified between the ADC value of the entire area of the treated mass and the extent of tumor necrosis (r=0.58; P<0.001). In conclusion, DWI can be used to assess HCC viability following TACE.

Comparison of gadobenate dimeglumine-enhanced breast MRI and gadopentetate dimeglumine-enhanced breast MRI with mammography and ultrasound for the detection of breast cancer.

PURPOSE: To compare gadobenate dimeglumine-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with gadopentetate dimeglumine-enhanced MRI, mammography, and ultrasound for breast cancer detection across different malignant lesion types and across different densities of breast tissue. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In all, 153 women with Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) 3­5 findings on mammography and/or ultrasound underwent identical breast MRI exams at 1.5T with gadobenate dimeglumine and gadopentetate dimeglumine. Images were evaluated by three independent blinded radiologists. Mammography, ultrasound, and combined mammography and/or ultrasound findings were available for 108, 109, and 131 women. Imaging findings were matched with histology data by a fourth, independent, blinded radiologist. Malignant lesion detection rates and diagnostic performance were compared. RESULTS: In all, 120, 120, and 140 confirmed malignant lesions were present in patients undergoing MRI+mammography, MRI+ultrasound, and MRI+mammography and/or ultrasound, respectively. Significantly greater cancer detection rates were noted by all three readers for comparisons of gadobenate dimeglumine-enhanced MRI with mammography (Δ15.8­17.5%; P < 0.0001), ultrasound (Δ18.3­20.0%; P < 0.0001), and mammography and/or ultrasound (Δ8.6­10.7%; P ≤ 0.0105) but not for comparisons of gadopentetate dimeglumine-enhanced MRI with conventional techniques (P > 0.05). The false-positive detection rates were lower on gadobenate dimeglumine-enhanced MRI than on conventional imaging (4.0­5.5% vs. 11.1% at mammography; 6.3­8.4% vs. 15.5% at ultrasound). Significantly improved cancer detection on MRI was noted in heterogeneously dense breast (91.2­97.3% on gadobenate dimeglumine-enhanced MRI vs. 77.2­84.9% on gadopentetate dimeglumine-enhanced MRI vs. 71.9-84.9% with conventional techniques) and for invasive cancers (93.2­96.2% for invasive ductal carcinoma [IDC] on gadobenate dimeglumine-enhanced MRI vs. 79.7­88.5% on gadopentetate dimeglumine-enhanced MRI vs. 77.0­84.4% with conventional techniques). Overall diagnostic performance for the detection of cancer was superior on gadobenate dimeglumine-enhanced MRI than on conventional imaging or gadopentetate dimeglumine-enhanced MRI. CONCLUSION: Gadobenate dimeglumine-enhanced MRI significantly improves cancer detection compared to gadopentetate dimeglumine-enhanced MRI, mammography, and ultrasound in a selected group of patients undergoing breast MRI for preoperative staging or because of inconclusive findings at conventional imaging.

Clinical outcomes and prediction of survival following percutaneous biliary drainage for malignant obstructive jaundice.

The present study aimed to investigate the clinical outcomes of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage in patients with obstructive jaundice and identify potential predictors of patient survival. Clinical data from 102 patients (66 males and 36 females; median age, 63.50 years; range, 29-84 years) with a mean (± standard deviation) pre-drainage serum bilirubin level of 285.4 (±136.7 µmol/l), were retrospectively studied. Technical and clinical success, complications and survival time were recorded and their relationship with clinical factors, including age, obstruction level, liver metastases, serum bilirubin level and subsequent treatments following drainage, were analyzed by Fisher's exact test. Patient survival rate and other predictors were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox's proportional hazard model. The technical and clinical success rates were 100 and 76.5%, respectively. The presence of liver metastases was associated with reduced successful drainage. The overall complication rate was 7.8% and the overall median survival time was 185 days [95% confidence interval (CI), 159-211 days]. A log-rank test showed that age (χ2, 4.003; P=0.04), bilirubin levels following procedure (χ2, 5.139; P=0.02) and subsequent therapy (χ2, 15.459; P=0.00) affected survival time. However, Cox's regression analysis revealed no administration of additional treatments to be a risk factor of survival (odds ratio, 2.323; 95% CI, 1.465-3.685; P=0.000). Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage for malignant biliary obstruction was found to be a safe and effective method to relieve jaundice caused by progressive neoplasms. Subsequent radical therapy following drainage, including surgery, chemotherapy and other local treatment types, are likely to increase patient survival.

Comparison of ADC values of intracranial hemangiopericytomas and angiomatous and anaplastic meningiomas.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine whether the use of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values can improve the diagnostic efficacy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to differentiate hemangiopericytoma (HPC) from angiomatous and anaplastic meningioma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Preoperative diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) studies of 38 patients with pathologically proven intracranial HPC (n = 12) and angiomatous (n = 13) or anaplastic meningioma (n = 13) were retrospectively reviewed. ADC values were measured in the tumor parenchyma and peritumoral edema, and used to obtain normalized ADC (NADC) ratios (ADC of tumor/ADC of normal white matter). RESULTS: Mean ADC values were significantly different between HPC and anaplastic meningioma (1.17 ± 0.30 × 10(-3) mm(2)/s and 0.75 ± 0.11 × 10(-3) mm(2)/s, respectively). Mean NADC ratios were also significantly lower in the malignant cases (0.95 ± 0.13) compared with the benign HPCs (1.53 ± 0.39; P < 0.05). Mean ADC values and NADC ratios did not differ significantly between angiomatous meningioma and HPC (P > 0.05), whereas mean ADC values and NADC ratios were lower for anaplastic meningioma than for either angiomatous meningioma or HPC (P < 0.05). Mean ADC value in peritumoral edema in HPC (1.48 ± 0.11 × 10(-3) mm(2)/s) was lower than in either angiomatous (1.73 ± 0.28 × 10(-3) mm(2)/s) or anaplastic (1.72 ± 0.25 × 10(-3) mm(2)/s) meningioma (P < 0.05), and there was no significant difference between ADC values in anaplastic versus angiomatous meningioma (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: ADC values in tumor parenchyma and peritumoral edema can provide helpful information that is otherwise not available from conventional MRI to differentiate HPC from angiomatous and anaplastic meningioma.

Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging for focal liver lesions in Chinese patients: a multicenter, open-label, phase III study.

BACKGROUND: Contrast agents help to improve visibility in magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. However, owing to the large interstitial spaces of the liver, there is a reduction in the natural contrast gradient between lesions and healthy tissue. This study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the liver-specific MR imaging contrast agent gadoxetate disodium (Gd-EOB-DTPA) in Chinese patients. METHODS: This was a single-arm, open-label, multicenter study in patients with known or suspected focal liver lesions referred for contrast-enhanced MR imaging. MR imaging was performed in 234 patients before and after a single intravenous bolus of Gd-EOB-DTPA (0.025 mmol/kg body weight). Images were evaluated by clinical study investigators and three independent, blinded radiologists. The primary efficacy endpoint was sensitivity in lesion detection. RESULTS: Gd-EOB-DTPA improved sensitivity in lesion detection by 9.46% compared with pre-contrast imaging for the average of the three blinded readers (94.78% vs 85.32% for Gd-EOB-DTPA vs pre-contrast, respectively). Improvements in detection were more pronounced in lesions less than 1 cm. Gd-EOB-DTPA improved diagnostic accuracy in lesion classification. CONCLUSIONS: This open-label study demonstrated that Gd-EOB-DTPA improves diagnostic sensitivity in liver lesions, particularly in those smaller than 1 cm. Gd-EOB-DTPA also significantly improves the diagnostic accuracy in lesion classification, and furthermore, Gd-EOB-DTPA is safe in Chinese patients with liver lesions.