Cervical assessment certification and its impact on performance quality in the context of universal cervical screening.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of the introduction of universal transvaginal cervical screening and certification on the quality of cervical length ultrasound images. METHODS: The present study included a retrospective cohort of singleton pregnancies that underwent transvaginal cervical length measurement at the anatomical scan (180/7 and 236/7 weeks) before (period A, 2015-2017) and after (period B, 2017-2019) the introduction of universal transvaginal cervical length screening. Independent observers blindly evaluated the images obtained for cervical length using a qualitative scoring method based on five criteria, according to the Fetal Medicine Foundation. RESULTS: In all, 6013 patients met the inclusion criteria, 3333 in period A and 2680 in period B. Maternal characteristics and risk factors for preterm birth were similar between the two periods. The acceptance of transvaginal cervical length measurement in period B was 95.5% in the overall cohort and 100% in the subgroup of high-risk patients. The quality score was significantly higher in period B than in period A. Among the image quality criteria, the anterior/posterior ratio, the correct magnification of the images, and the calipers' placement contributed significantly to the improved quality score in period B. Most of the sonographers performed better in period B, irrespective of the years of experience, but certificate holders obtained higher scores than non-certified sonographers, particularly those in mid-career. The identification of short cervix was significantly higher in period B than in period A. CONCLUSION: The implementation of universal transvaginal cervical length screening and the certification process are associated with improved quality of cervical length images, even among expert sonographers and in the presence of anatomical pitfalls.

Gestational trophoblastic disease: an update.

Gestational trophoblastic diseases (GTD) encompass a spectrum of rare pre-malignant and malignant entities originating from trophoblastic tissue. This updated review will highlight important radiological features, pathology and classification, and provide insight into the clinical management of these uncommon disorders. There is a wide geographic variation with the incidence of hydatidiform mole varying between 0.57 and 2 per 1000 pregnancies. The use of ultrasound (US) in the management of early pregnancy symptoms and complications has positively impacted the earlier detection of these diseases and resulted in diminished morbidity. Additional imaging modalities are reserved for problem solving or assessment of pulmonary manifestations of molar pregnancy. Having an awareness of their pleomorphic sonographic presentation and additional pathology that can mimic GTD is critical to avoiding pitfalls. Histologic and molecular analysis further aids in differential diagnosis. Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) is inclusive of all malignant GTDs, and arises after 20% of molar pregnancies but can also be seen with non-molar gestations. Biochemical monitoring with human chorionic gonadotrophin is imperative for ongoing monitoring and surveillance and allows early detection of this entity. Doppler US is used for confirmation of diagnosis with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reserved for problem solving or assessment of myometrial invasion. This is of heightened relevance in patients undergoing surgical management. Cross sectional imaging is reserved for patients in the setting of GTN for the purposes of staging, prognostication and in the setting of recurrent disease. This may require a combination of computed tomography, MRI and positron emission tomography. Doppler US can provide insight into chemotherapeutic response/predict resistance in patients with GTN. As our understanding of these disorders evolves, there has been maturation in management options with a shift from traditional chemotherapy to innovative immunotherapy, particularly in the setting of resistant or high-risk disease.

External Validation of O-RADS US Risk Stratification and Management System.

Background The Ovarian-Adnexal Reporting and Data System (O-RADS) US risk stratification and management system (O-RADS US) was designed to improve risk assessment and management of ovarian and adnexal lesions. Validation studies including both surgical and nonsurgical treatment as the reference standard remain lacking. Purpose To externally validate O-RADS US in women who underwent either surgical or nonsurgical treatment and to determine if incorporating acoustic shadowing as a benign finding improves diagnostic performance. Materials and Methods This retrospective study included consecutive women who underwent pelvic US between August 2015 and April 2017 at a tertiary referral oncology center. Two independent readers blinded to clinical and histologic outcome assigned an O-RADS risk category and an International Ovarian Tumor Analysis (IOTA) Assessment of Different NEoplasias in the adneXa (ADNEX) model risk of malignancy score to assessable lesions. Reference standards were surgical histopathology or 2-year imaging follow-up. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate performance of the O-RADS US, ADNEX, and modified O-RADS models incorporating acoustic shadowing. Results In total, 227 women (mean age, 52 years ± 16 [SD]) with 262 ovarian or adnexal lesions were evaluated. Of these lesions, 187 (71%) were benign and 75 (29%) were malignant. The proportion of malignancy was 0% (0 of 100) for O-RADS 2, 3% (one of 32) for O-RADS 3, 35% (22 of 63) for O-RADS 4, and 78% (52 of 67) for O-RADS 5. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) for O-RADS and ADNEX was 0.91 (95% CI: 0.88, 0.94) and 0.95 (95% CI: 0.92, 0.97; P = .01), respectively. The addition of acoustic shadowing as a benign finding improved O-RADS AUC to 0.94 (95% CI: 0.91, 0.96; P = .01). Use of O-RADS 4 as a threshold yielded a sensitivity of 99% (74 of 75; 95% CI: 96, 100) and a specificity of 70% (131 of 187; 95% CI: 64, 77). Conclusion In a tertiary referral oncology center, the Ovarian-Adnexal Reporting and Data System US risk stratification and management system enabled accurate distinction of benign from malignant ovarian and adnexal lesions. Adding acoustic shadowing as a benign finding improved its diagnostic performance. © RSNA, 2022 See also the editorial by Levine in this issue.

The Abnormal Ovary: Evolving Concepts in Diagnosis and Management.

Ovarian lesions are common and require a consistent approach to diagnosis and management for best patient outcomes. In the past 20 years, there has been an evolution in the approach to abnormal ovarian lesions, with increasing emphasis on reducing surgery for benign disease, standardizing terminology, assessing risk of malignancy through use of evidence-based scoring systems, and triaging suspicious abnormalities to dedicated oncology centers. This article provides an evidence-based review of how these changes in diagnosis and management of ultrasound-detected abnormal ovarian lesions have occurred. Current recommended practices are summarized. The current literature on transvaginal screening for ovarian cancer also is reviewed and summarized.

Rapid MRI of the breast in evaluating lesions discovered on screening.

BACKGROUND: In Canada, breast MRI has traditionally been reserved for evaluation of disease extent in patients with known breast malignancy. More recently, MRI has been emerging as an instrument for breast screening. However, its utilization is limited by increased relative cost and increased reader time. In this study, we evaluate a rapid MRI protocol for breast cancer screening within a breast screening population. METHODS: A series of 100 MRI studies performed in a high-risk breast cancer population were selected, ensuring a mix of malignant and benign pathology and normal cases. These were presented as full and abbreviated MRI protocols to 3 breast-trained radiologists. Each case was evaluated for Breast Imaging Reporting and Data Systems (BIRADS) category and the presence or absence of cancer. The time taken to complete and interpret each study was also recorded. RESULTS: Of the 100 cases, 17 were of histopathology-proven invasive carcinoma, 6 were ductal carcinoma in situ, 33 were benign, and 44 were normal cases. Sensitivity using the rapid protocol was 69.6% (CI: 47.1-86.8) vs 83% (CI: 61.2-95.1) using the full protocol. Specificity using the rapid protocol was 77.9% (CI: 67.0-86.6) vs 83% (CI: 61.2-95.1) using the full protocol. Intra-observer agreement of BIRADS category and cancer detection was very good (0.82-0.93 weighted Kappa and 0.81-0.9 weighted Kappa, respectively). Inter-observer variability of BIRADS category and cancer detection was moderate (0.54-0.59 and 0.53-0.58, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that a rapid MRI protocol is comparable in performance to that of a standard MRI protocol. In addition, breast imagers are unlikely to change their BIRADS assessment of a study based on the additional sequences provided by the lengthier study. The use of a rapid MRI protocol can improve accessibility, thus making breast MRI a more utilized tool for breast cancer screening.

Benign Papillomas of the Breast Diagnosed on Large-Gauge Vacuum Biopsy compared with 14 Gauge Core Needle Biopsy - Do they require surgical excision?

To evaluate whether biopsy with vacuum-assisted biopsy (VAB) devices improves histologic underestimation rates of benign papillomas when compared to smaller bore core needle biopsy (CNB) devices. Patients with biopsy-proven benign papillomas with surgical resection or minimum 12 months follow-up were selected. Two breast pathologists reviewed all pathology slides of percutaneous and excisional biopsy specimens. Histologic underestimation rates for lesions biopsied with 10-12 Gauge (G) VAB were compared to those with 14G CNB. A total of 107 benign papillomas in 107 patients from two centers were included. There were 60 patients (mean age 57 years, SD 10.3 years) diagnosed with VAB and 47 patients (mean age 57.6 years, SD 11.3 years) with 14G CNB who underwent surgical excision or imaging follow-up. The upgrade rate to ductal carcinoma in situ or invasive carcinoma was 1.6% (1/60) with VAB and 8.5% (4/47) with 14G. Upgrade to atypia was 3.3% (2/60) after VAB and 10.6% (5/47) with CNB. The total underestimation rates were 5% (3/60) with VAB and 19.1% (9/47) with CNB. The odds of an upgrade to malignancy was 5.5 times higher with a 14G needle than VAB (95% CI: 0.592-50.853, p = 0.17). We observed a lower but not statistically significant upgrade rate to malignancy and atypia with the use of the 10-12 G VAB as compared with 14G CNB. When a papilloma without atypia is diagnosed with vacuum biopsy there is a high likelihood that it is benign; however, if surgical excision is not performed, long-term follow-up is still required.

Alpha Angle Measurements in Healthy Adult Volunteers Vary Depending on the MRI Plane Acquisition Used.

BACKGROUND: It has been shown that cam deformities are located at a more anterosuperior location than was previously described. PURPOSE: To establish, in a large group of asymptomatic participants, the normative range of the alpha angle in the anterosuperior location in both the oblique axial and radial views of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: In 197 asymptomatic participants (394 asymptomatic hips) with a mean age of 29.4 years (range, 21.4-50.6 years), T1-weighted MRI scans were studied. The anterosuperior alpha angle measurement was performed by 2 observers using a previously described methodology and also using the radial view. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was determined for interobserver and intraobserver reliability. Descriptive statistics, the Student t test, correlation studies, and the Bland-Altman technique were used for data analysis. RESULTS: The ICC for interobserver and intraobserver reproducibility was 0.74 (good agreement) and 0.84 (very good agreement), respectively. Anterosuperiorly, the mean (±SD) alpha angles in the oblique axial and radial views were 45.11° ± 8.52° and 50.30° ± 7.91°, respectively ( P < .0001). The upper limits of the 95% reference interval for the oblique axial and radial views were 63° and 66°, respectively. In the oblique axial view, the mean (±SD) alpha angle for male participants was 48.3° ± 7.5° compared with 42.6° ± 6.2° for female participants ( P < .0001), and in the radial view, it was 53.0° ± 7.1° compared with 48.1° ± 5.6°, respectively ( P < .0001). Linear regression analysis demonstrated an insignificant relationship between age and alpha angle, regardless of the imaging plane ( r2 = 0.06). CONCLUSION: We suggest using a higher threshold of 63° (in the oblique axial view) and 66° (in the radial view) at the 1:30 clockface position for the diagnosis of a cam-type deformity. This is significantly higher than 50° to 55° at the 3-o'clock position traditionally used based on the oblique axial view that has been initially described.

Targeted delayed scanning at CT urography: a worthwhile use of radiation?

PURPOSE: To determine whether ureteral segments not filled with contrast material at computed tomographic (CT) urography ever contain tumor detectable only by filling these segments with contrast material. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this institutional review board-approved, HIPAA-compliant retrospective study, with waiver of informed consent, databases were searched for all patients who underwent heminephroureterectomy or ureteroscopy between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2009, with available CT urography findings in the 12 months prior to surgery or biopsy and patients who had undergone at least two CT urography procedures with a minimum 5-year follow-up between studies. One of two radiologists blinded to results of pathologic examination recorded location of unfilled segments, time of scan, subsequent filling, and pathologic or 5-year follow-up CT urography results. Tumors were considered missed in an unfilled segment if tumor was found at pathologic examination or follow-up CT urography in the same one-third of the ureter and there were no secondary signs of a mass with other index CT urography sequences. Estimated radiation dose for additional delayed sequences was calculated with a 32-cm phantom. RESULTS: In 59 male and 33 female patients (mean age, 66 years) undergoing heminephroureterectomy, 27 tumors were present in 41 partially nonopacified ureters in 20 patients. Six tumors were present in nonopacified segments (one multifocal, none bilateral); all were identifiable by means of secondary signs present with earlier sequences. Among 182 lesions biopsied at ureteroscopy in 124 male and 53 female patients (mean age, 69 years), 28 tumors were present in nonopacified segments in 25 patients (four multifocal, none bilateral), all with secondary imaging signs detectable without delayed scanning. In 64 male and 29 female patients (mean age, 69 years) who underwent 5-year follow-up CT urography, three new tumors were revealed in three patients; none occurred in the unfilled ureter at index CT urography. Estimated radiation dose from additional sequences was 4.3 mSv per patient. CONCLUSION: Targeted delayed scanning at CT urography yielded no additional ureteral tumors and resulted in additional radiation exposure.

Prevalence of cam-type femoroacetabular impingement morphology in asymptomatic volunteers.

BACKGROUND: Femoroacetabular impingement is a cause of hip pain in adults and is a possible precursor of osteoarthritis, with the cam type of impingement being the most common. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of cam-type morphology of the hip in asymptomatic patients. METHODS: Two hundred asymptomatic volunteers with no prior hip surgery or childhood hip problems underwent magnetic resonance imaging targeted to both hips. The subjects were examined at the time of magnetic resonance imaging for internal rotation of the hips at 90° of hip flexion and for a positive impingement sign. The contour of the femoral head-neck junction was quantified with use of the alpha angle. A value of >50.5° was considered positive for cam morphology. Measurements were performed independently by two musculoskeletal radiologists. RESULTS: The mean age of the individuals was 29.4 years (range, 21.4 to 50.6 years); 79% were white, and 55.5% were women. The mean alpha angle anteriorly at the three o'clock position was 40.9° ± 7.0° on the right and 40.6° ± 7.1° on the left, whereas the mean alpha angle anterosuperiorly at the 1:30 position was 50.2° ± 8.0° on the right and 50.1° ± 8.3° on the left. Fourteen percent of the volunteers had at least one hip with cam morphology: 10.5% had an elevated alpha angle on either the right or the left side, and 3.5% had the deformity in both hips. Seventy-nine percent (twenty-two) of twenty-eight individuals who had an elevated alpha angle were men, and 21% (six) were women. Individuals with an elevated alpha angle on at least one side tended to be male (p < 0.001), with 24.7% (twenty-two) of eighty-nine men having cam morphology compared with only 5.4% (six) of 111 women. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of cam-type femoroacetabular impingement deformity is higher in men as well as in individuals with decreased internal rotation. Defining what represents a normal head-neck contour is important for establishing treatment strategies in patients presenting with prearthritic hip pain.