Long-Term Follow-Up of High-Risk Breast Lesions at Vacuum-Assisted Biopsy without Subsequent Surgical Resection.

Introduction: B3-lesions of the breast are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms, associated with a higher risk of breast cancer. Recent studies show a low upgrade rate into malignancy after subsequent open surgical excision (OE) of most B3-lesions when proven by vacuum-assisted biopsy (VAB). However, there is a lack of long-term follow-up data after VAB of high-risk lesions. The primary aim of this study was to demonstrate whether follow-up of B3 lesions is a beneficial and reliable alternative to OE in terms of long-term outcome. The secondary aim was to identify patient and lesion characteristics of B3 lesions for which OE is still necessary. Methods: This retrospective multicenter study was conducted at 8 Swiss breast centers between 2010 and 2019. A total of 278 women (mean age: 53.5 ± 10.7 years) with 286 B3-lesions who had observation only and who had at least 24 months of follow-up were included. Any event during follow-up (ductal carcinoma in situ [DCIS], invasive cancer, new B3-lesion) was systematically recorded. Data from women who had an event during follow-up were compared with those who did not. The results for the different B3 lesions were analyzed using the t test and Fisher's exact test. A p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The median follow-up interval was 59 months (range: 24-143 months) with 52% (148/286) having a follow-up of more than 5 years. During follow-up, in 42 women, 44 suspicious lesions occurred, with 36.4% (16/44) being invasive cancer and 6.8% (3/44) being DCIS. Thus, 6.6% (19/286) of all women developed malignancy during follow-up after a median follow-up interval of 6.5 years (range: 31-119 months). The initial histology of the B3 lesion influenced the subsequent occurrence of a malignant lesion during follow-up (p < 0.038). The highest malignancy-developing rate was observed in atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) (24%, 19/79), while all other B3-lesions had malignant findings ipsi- and contralateral between 0% and 6%. The results were not influenced by the VAB method (Mx-, US-, magnetic resonance imaging-guided), the radiological characteristics of the lesion, or the age or menopausal status of the patient (p > 0.12). Conclusion: With a low risk of <6% of developing malignancy, VAB followed by long-term follow-up is a safe alternative to OE for most B3-lesions. A higher malignancy rate only occurred in ADH (24%). Based on our results, radiological follow-up should be bilateral, preferable using the technique of initial diagnosis. As we observed a late peak (6-7 years) of breast malignancies after B3-lesions, follow-up should be continued for a longer period (>10 years). Knowledge of these long-term outcome results will be helpful in making treatment decisions and determining the optimal radiological follow-up interval.

First International Consensus Conference on lesions of uncertain malignant potential in the breast (B3 lesions).

The purpose of this study is to obtain a consensus for the therapy of B3 lesions. The first International Consensus Conference on lesions of uncertain malignant potential in the breast (B3 lesions) including atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH), flat epithelial atypia (FEA), classical lobular neoplasia (LN), papillary lesions (PL), benign phyllodes tumors (PT), and radial scars (RS) took place in January 2016 in Zurich, Switzerland organized by the International Breast Ultrasound School and the Swiss Minimally Invasive Breast Biopsy group-a subgroup of the Swiss Society of Senology. Consensus recommendations for the management and follow-up surveillance of these B3 lesions were developed and areas of research priorities were identified. The consensus recommendation for FEA, LN, PL, and RS diagnosed on core needle biopsy or vacuum-assisted biopsy (VAB) is to therapeutically excise the lesion seen on imaging by VAB and no longer by open surgery, with follow-up surveillance imaging for 5 years. The consensus recommendation for ADH and PT is, with some exceptions, therapeutic first-line open surgical excision. Minimally invasive management of selected B3 lesions with therapeutic VAB is acceptable as an alternative to first-line surgical excision.

Underestimation Rate at MR Imaging-guided Vacuum-assisted Breast Biopsy: A Multi-Institutional Retrospective Study of 1509 Breast Biopsies.

Purpose To assess the rate of underestimation of atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) at magnetic resonance (MR) imaging-guided vacuum-assisted breast biopsy and to explore the imaging, demographic, and histologic characteristics associated with lesion upgrade after surgery. Materials and Methods This retrospective study had institutional review board approval, and the need to obtain informed patient consent was waived. A total of 1509 MR imaging-guided vacuum-assisted biopsy procedures were performed in nine centers. A diagnosis of ADH was obtained after biopsy in 72 cases, and a diagnosis of DCIS was obtained in 118 cases. Pearson χ2 and Fisher tests were used to assess the association between demographic, MR imaging, and biopsy features and lesion upgrade. Univariate statistical analyses were performed, and each significant parameter was entered into a multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results Surgical excision was performed in 66 of the 72 ADH cases and in 117 of 118 DCIS cases. The ADH and DCIS underestimation rates were 25.8% (17 of 66) and 23.1% (27 of 117), respectively. Underestimation was 5.6-fold (odds ratio [OR] = 5.6; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.7, 18.3) and 3.6-fold (OR = 3.6; 95% CI: 1.2, 10) more likely in mass (n = 20 for ADH and n = 20 for DCIS) than in non-mass (n = 46 for ADH and n = 97 for DCIS), compared with nonunderestimation, in ADH and DCIS respectively. At multivariate analysis, the use of a 9- or 10-gauge needle versus a 7- or 8-gauge needle was also an independently associated with underestimation when a diagnosis of ADH was made at MR imaging-guided biopsy. No other parameters were associated with of ADH or DCIS upgrade at surgery. Conclusion The rates of underestimation in ADH and DCIS diagnosed at MR imaging-guided vacuum-assisted biopsy were high, at around 25%, and were significantly associated with the presence of a mass at MR imaging. © RSNA, 2016.

Improving breast cancer education: the case of an evolving multidisciplinary module for undergraduate medical students (Lausanne Medical School, 1993-2008).

Breast cancer is a public health issue in numerous countries. Multidisciplinary collaboration is required for patient care, research, and also education of future physicians. This paper uses Kern's framework for curriculum design to demonstrate how a breast diseases module for undergraduate medical students created in 1993 evolved over 15 years. The main outcomes of program refinements were better integrated course content, the development of electronic course documents, and implementation of computer-aided small group learning. A main future challenge is to further develop efficient instructional strategies in line with well-defined learning needs for undergraduate students.

Detection of ingested cocaine-filled packets--diagnostic value of unenhanced CT.

PURPOSE: Emergency departments are facing nowadays an increasing number of illegal drug-related health problems, associated with medicolegal and/or social consequences. Body stuffers are street cocaine dealers, who either store wrapped packets of drugs in their rectum or hastily swallow them, prompted by fear of police's arrest. These packets can be life threatening in case of leakage. We evaluate the diagnostic value of unenhanced multidetector CT (MDCT) for detection of cocaine-filled packets (CFP) ingested by body stuffers in a phantom model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our phantom simulated normal bowel contents in which a varying number of true and false CFP were randomly mixed. Both only differ in radiological density. During 18 different reading sessions, four radiologists independently evaluated the presence and number of true and false CFP. Interobserver agreement, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value were calculated. RESULTS: Interobserver agreement for detection of any packets, for visualization of true, and false CFP was good (kappa=0.63, 0.74 and 0.58, respectively). Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value for detection of any packets was 95.6%, 100%, 100% and 62.5%, respectively; for visualization of the true CFP 86.5%, 100%, 100% and 77.6%, respectively; and for the false packets 98.1%, 65%, 88.6% and 87.5%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Unenhanced MDCT without bowel preparation is a fast, reliable and easily reproducible imaging modality for the immediate detection of ingested CFP, thus facilitating medicolegal management of body stuffers.

Multimodality imaging evaluation of the pediatric neck: techniques and spectrum of findings.

Neck masses are a common finding in children and can present a difficult diagnostic challenge. These masses may represent a variety of conditions having a congenital, acquired inflammatory, neoplastic, or vascular origin. The fascial spaces and compartments of the neck provide an approach to differential diagnosis, and extensive knowledge of the anatomy and contents of each cervical compartment is mandatory in the diagnosis of pediatric neck lesions. Several imaging techniques, including radiography, gray-scale and Doppler ultrasonography, conventional and three-dimensional computed tomography, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, and MR angiography, have been proposed for the evaluation of such lesions, and each has its own advantages and limitations. The imaging findings in 120 children who had been referred or treated for cervical lesions were retrospectively reviewed, and a systematic multimodality imaging approach to pediatric neck lesions based on the involvement of anatomic compartments of the cervical region was developed to increase diagnostic efficiency. Careful attention to clinical history and physical examination findings, along with knowledge of the embryologic features and anatomy of the cervical region and a multimodality imaging approach, is very helpful in the diagnosis and management of pediatric neck lesions.

Objective assessment of image quality in conventional and digital mammography taking into account dynamic range.

The goal of this work is to develop a method to objectively compare the performance of a digital and a screen-film mammography system in terms of image quality. The method takes into account the dynamic range of the image detector, the detection of high and low contrast structures, the visualisation of the images and the observer response. A test object, designed to represent a compressed breast, was constructed from various tissue equivalent materials ranging from purely adipose to purely glandular composition. Different areas within the test object permitted the evaluation of low and high contrast detection, spatial resolution and image noise. All the images (digital and conventional) were captured using a CCD camera to include the visualisation process in the image quality assessment. A mathematical model observer (non-prewhitening matched filter), that calculates the detectability of high and low contrast structures using spatial resolution, noise and contrast, was used to compare the two technologies. Our results show that for a given patient dose, the detection of high and low contrast structures is significantly better for the digital system than for the conventional screen-film system studied. The method of using a test object with a large tissue composition range combined with a camera to compare conventional and digital imaging modalities can be applied to other radiological imaging techniques. In particular it could be used to optimise the process of radiographic reading of soft copy images.

Acute brain perfusion disorders in children assessed by quantitative perfusion computed tomography in the emergency setting.

OBJECTIVE: Perfusion computed tomography (CT) is a simple imaging technique that allows accurate quantitative assessment of brain perfusion. Perfusion CT is an ideal imaging technique to be used in the emergency setting and has thus gained recognition in the early management of adult acute stroke patients. Perfusion CT can be applied to children successfully by using adequate imaging protocols. The goal of this article is to provide a pictorial essay of the perfusion CT features of diseases that affect brain perfusion as depicted in a population of children who were evaluated in the emergency CT unit of our institution. METHODS: During the period of September 2001 to October 2002, all the children, who were evaluated in the emergency CT unit of our institution and who were prescribed with a cerebral CT and an intravenous administration of iodinated contrast material, underwent a perfusion-CT examination. Perfusion-CT maps were reviewed in the patients diagnosed as abnormal on the basis of follow-up clinical/radiological examinations and correlated with the results of these tests. RESULTS: Brain perfusion-CT examinations have been performed in 77 children. Fifty-three patients were considered as normal, based on normal conventional cerebral CT and normal clinical/radiological follow-up. Perfusion-CT results showed major abnormalities in 14 cases among the 24 remaining patients, related to brain ischemia in 2, head trauma in 9, brain infection in 2, and sickle cell disease in 1. These abnormalities consisted in low regional cerebral blood flow and volume values, and in high mean transit time values. They demonstrated typical anatomical distribution, depending on the considered pathological condition. CONCLUSIONS: Perfusion CT provides quantitative assessment of child brain perfusion disorders. Its ability to be easily performed upon admission makes it an ideal emergency tool that advantageously competes with other imaging techniques such as perfusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, despite its limited spatial coverage. Its usefulness with respect to the impact on treatment and outcome, however, remains to be established in further studies.

Brain perfusion in children: evolution with age assessed by quantitative perfusion computed tomography.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the age-related variations of brain perfusion through quantitative cerebral perfusion computed tomography (CT) results in children without brain abnormality. METHODS: Brain perfusion CT examinations were performed in 77 children, aged 7 days to 18 years. These patients were admitted at our institution for both noncontrast and contrast-enhanced cerebral CT. Only children whose conventional cerebral CT and clinical/radiologic follow-up, including additional investigations, were normal were taken into account for this study (53 of 77). RESULTS: The average regional rCBF amounts to 40 (mL/100 g per minute) for the first 6 months of life, peaks at approximately 130 (mL/100 g per minute) at approximately 2 to 4 years of age, and finally stabilizes at approximately 50 (mL/100 g per minute) at approximately 7 to 8 years of age, with a small increase of rCBF values at approximately 12 years of age. The rCBF in the gray matter averages 3 times that in the white matter, except for the first 6 months of life. The global CBF represents 10% to 20% of the global cardiac output for the first 6 months of life, peaks at approximately 55% by 2 to 4 years of age, and finally stabilizes at approximately 15% by 7 to 8 years of age. Specific age-related evolution patterns were identified in the different anatomic areas of the cerebral parenchyma, which could be related to the development of neuroanatomic structures and to the emergence of corresponding cognitive functions. CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative perfusion CT characterization of brain perfusion shows specific age variations. Brain perfusion of each cortical area evolves according to a specific time course, in close correlation with the psychomotor development.

Severe hypertension and massive proteinuria in a newborn with renal artery stenosis.

Renal vein thrombosis and the congenital nephrotic syndrome have been associated with nephrotic-range proteinuria/nephrotic syndrome and hypertension in the newborn period. We describe a newborn with severe hypertension and proteinuria secondary to unilateral renal artery stenosis. Proteinuria completely disappeared with blood pressure control (with sodium nitroprusside and an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor). Although renin was not measured, we speculate that proteinuria might have been induced by a high renin state, and was controlled by the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor.

Closure of large intrathoracic airway defects using extrathoracic muscle flaps.

BACKGROUND: Prospective assessment of pedicled extrathoracic muscle flaps for the closure of large intrathoracic airway defects after noncircumferential resection in situations where an end-to-end reconstruction seemed risky (defects of > 4-cm length, desmoplastic reactions after previous infection or radiochemotherapy). METHODS: From 1996 to 2001, 13 intrathoracic muscle transpositions (6 latissimus dorsi and 7 serratus anterior muscle flaps) were performed to close defects of the intrathoracic airways after noncircumferential resection for tumor (n = 5), large tracheoesophageal fistula (n = 2), delayed tracheal injury (n = 1) and bronchopleural fistula (n = 5). In 2 patients, the extent of the tracheal defect required reinforcement of the reconstruction by use of a rib segment embedded into the muscle flap followed by temporary tracheal stenting. Patient follow-up was by clinical examination bronchoscopy and biopsy, pulmonary function tests, and dynamic virtual bronchoscopy by computed tomographic (CT) scan during inspiration and expiration. RESULTS: The airway defects ranged from 2 x 1 cm to 8 x 4 cm and involved up to 50% of the airway circumference. They were all successfully closed using muscle flaps with no mortality and all patients were extubated within 24 hours. Bronchoscopy revealed epithelialization of the reconstructions without dehiscence, stenosis, or recurrence of fistulas. The flow-volume loop was preserved in all patients and dynamic virtual bronchoscopy revealed no significant difference in the endoluminal cross surface areas of the airway between inspiration and expiration above (45 +/- 21 mm(2)), at the site (76 +/- 23 mm(2)) and below the reconstruction (65 +/- 40 mm(2)). CONCLUSIONS: Intrathoracic airway defects of up to 50% of the circumference may be repaired using extrathoracic muscle flaps when an end-to-end reconstruction is not feasible.

Prospective comparison of MR enteroclysis with multidetector spiral-CT enteroclysis: interobserver agreement and sensitivity by means of "sign-by-sign" correlation.

Our objective was a prospective comparison of MR enteroclysis (MRE) with multidetector spiral-CT enteroclysis (MSCTE). Fifty patients with various suspected small bowel diseases were investigated by MSCTE and MRE. The MSCTE was performed using slices of 2.5 mm, immediately followed by MRE, obtaining T1- and T2-weighted sequences, including gadolinium-enhanced acquisition with fat saturation. Three radiologists independently evaluated MSCTE and MRE searching for 12 pathological signs. Interobserver agreement was calculated. Sensitivities and specificities resulted from comparison with pathological results ( n=29) and patient's clinical evolution ( n=21). Most pathological signs, such as bowel wall thickening (BWT), bowel wall enhancement (BWE) and lymphadenopathy (ADP), showed better interobserver agreement on MSCTE than on MRE (BWT: 0.65 vs 0.48; BWE: 0.51 vs 0.37; ADP: 0.52 vs 0.15). Sensitivity of MSCTE was higher than that of MRE in detecting BWT (88.9 vs 60%), BWE (78.6 vs 55.5%) and ADP (63.8 vs 14.3%). Wilcoxon signed-rank test revealed significantly better sensitivity of MSCTE than that of MRE for each observer ( p=0.028, p=0.046, p=0.028, respectively). Taking the given study design into account, MSCTE provides better sensitivity in detecting lesions of the small bowel than MRE, with higher interobserver agreement.

[Quality assurance in organized screening of breast cancer]. / L'assurance de qualité en dépistage organise du cancer du sein.

Quality assurance is an essential process which should be applied for any organised breast cancer screening program since mammography it the only test available for an early diagnosis. It should also assess the quality of diagnostic and treatment processes in order to ascertain that the quality of the screening program would not be altered by the procedures which take place after the screening. Quality assurance must be applied to each component of the screening process: equipment, radiographers (technicians) as well as radiologists. It is a multidisciplinary approach following a well defined protocol, which should be supervised by a coordination unit, the Breast Cancer Screening Foundation in Canton of Vaud. Performances of the Vaud program show clearly at what extend multiple reading method improves the quality of screening. It seems that there is no inconvenient to involve radiologists who wish to participate without any selection to the reading process provided that there is in place a team of 2nd and 3rd readers who benefit of an appropriate training and experience.

Slipping rib syndrome: a place for sonography in the diagnosis of a frequently overlooked cause of abdominal or low thoracic pain.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the sonographic appearance of a poorly recognized cause of low thoracic or upper abdominal pain. METHODS: Three sonographic descriptions of slipping rib syndrome are presented. RESULTS: The 3 patients had abnormal mobility of a cartilaginous rib, which could slip over an adjacent rib during abdominal muscle contraction. CONCLUSIONS: Slipping rib syndrome should be considered in patients with histories of upper abdominal or low thoracic pain of unknown origin. We suggest that high-resolution sonography of the costal margin should be added to abdominal sonography in cases of nonspecific abdominal pain.