Feasibility of Quantitative MRI Using 3D-QALAS for Discriminating Immunohistochemical Status in Invasive Ductal Carcinoma of the Breast.

BACKGROUND: Two-dimensional synthetic MRI of the breast has limited spatial coverage. Three-dimensional (3D) synthetic MRI could provide volumetric quantitative parameters that may reflect the immunohistochemical (IHC) status in invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of the breast. PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility of 3D synthetic MRI using an interleaved Look-Locker acquisition sequence with a T2 preparation pulse (QALAS) for discriminating the IHC status, including hormone receptor (HR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER 2), and Ki-67 expression in IDC. STUDY TYPE: Prospective observational study. POPULATION: A total of 33 females with IDC of the breast (mean, 52.3 years). FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: A 3-T, 3D-QALAS gradient-echo and fat-suppressed T1-weighted 3D fast spoiled gradient-echo sequences. ASSESSMENT: Two radiologists semiautomatically delineated 3D regions of interest (ROIs) of the whole tumors on the dynamic MRI that was registered to the synthetic T1-weighted images acquired from 3D-QALAS. The mean T1 and T2 were measured for each IDC. STATISTICAL TESTS: Intraclass correlation coefficient for assessing interobserver agreement. Mann-Whitney U test to determine the relationship between the mean T1 or T2 and the IHC status. Multivariate logistic regression analysis followed by receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis for discriminating IHC status. A P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The interobserver agreement was good to excellent. There was a significant difference in the mean T1 between HR-positive and HR-negative lesions, while the mean T2 value differed between HR-positive and HR-negative lesions, between the triple-negative and HR-positive or HER2-positive lesions, and between the Ki-67 level > 14% and ≤ 14%. Multivariate analysis showed that the mean T2 was higher in HR-negative IDC than in HR-positive IDC. ROC analysis revealed that the mean T2 was predictive for discriminating HR status, triple-negative status, and Ki-67 level. DATA CONCLUSION: 3D synthetic MRI using QALAS may be useful for discriminating IHC status in IDC of the breast. EVIDENCE LEVEL: 1. TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.

Sulfur-Free Radical RAFT Polymerization of Methacrylates in Homogeneous Solution: Design of exo-Olefin Chain-Transfer Agents (R-CH2 C(=CH2 )Z).

In this work, the development of exo-olefin compounds (R-CH2 C(=CH2 )Z) as chain-transfer agents for the sulfur-free reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) radical polymerization of methacrylates in homogeneous solution is described. A series of exo-olefin compounds with a methyl methacrylate (MMA) dimer structure as the R group and a substituted α-methylstyrene unit as the -CH2 C(=CH2 )Z (Z: Ph-Y) group were synthesized and used for the radical polymerization of MMA in toluene and PhC(CF3 )2 OH. These compounds underwent transfer of the CH2 C(=CH2 )Z group via addition-fragmentation of the propagating methacryloyl radical. More electron-donating (Y) substituents, such as methoxy and dimethylamino groups, produced polymers with narrower molecular weight distributions. A continuous monomer addition method further improved molecular weight control and enabled the synthesis of colorless, sulfur-free, multiblock copolymers of methacrylates in homogeneous solutions.

A case of breast squamous cell carcinoma following breast augmentation with liquid silicone injection after 16 years.

BACKGROUND: Breast augmentation has been linked to various complications, including cancerous tumors. The majority type of breast cancer associated with breast augmentation is adenocarcinoma. Primary squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the breast is extremely rare in both augmented and non-augmented women. Due to the low incidence, the possible origin and the mechanism of carcinogenesis of the breast SCC are not well understood. Here, we report a rare case of pure SCC 16 years after breast augmentation with liquid silicone injection. CASE PRESENTATION: A 51-year-old Japanese woman was suffered from prolonged breast fluid retention in her left breast. Multiple unknown foreign bodies caused difficulties to investigate the inflammatory focus with ultrasonography. After unsuccessful surgical drainage and antibiotics treatments, the long-standing fluid retention was surgically removed and pathologically investigated. SCC was found in the removed tissue, and the patient underwent a total left mastectomy followed by postoperative chemotherapy. Pathological analysis revealed multiple cystic structures with a hard shell which enclosed high viscous liquid. A qualitative analysis using a Fourier transform infrared spectroscope defined the liquid as pure silicon, which possibly caused the squamous cell carcinogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: Although liquid silicone injection is not a current option for breast augmentation, the injected silicone could result in cancerous tumor generation after years. This case revealed that unphysiological substances could lead to unexpected biological reactions, which caused difficulties in diagnosis with our routine examination. It will be required that accumulate information from more cases and develop novel diagnostic equipment and biomarkers to address these artificial substance-derived tumors.

Case report of portal hepatic schwannoma: presentation of multimodality images.

BACKGROUND: Portal hepatic schwannoma is a rare benign tumor and difficult to diagnose preoperatively because of its rarity and imaging manifestations that mimic malignancy. We present a case of portal hepatic schwannoma that showed moderate contrast enhancement on computed tomography (CT), extension along the bile duct on T2-weighted imaging and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), and uptake of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) on positron emission tomography. CASE PRESENTATION: Ultrasonography at an annual health checkup identified a hepatic mass in a 38-year-old woman. CT showed a well-defined portal hepatic tumor with mild contrast enhancement. T2-weighted imaging and MRCP showed a clavate tumor extending along the intrahepatic bile ducts but no dilatation of the ducts. The tumor exhibited increased FDG uptake, such as maximum standardized uptake values of 5.0 and 6.5 in the early and late phases, respectively. Neither dilatation of intrahepatic bile ducts nor lymphadenopathy was identified, and the multimodality imaging suggested hepatic portal lymphoma, gastrointestinal tumor, or IgG4-related disease rather than cholangiocarcinoma. A needle biopsy via endoscopic ultrasonography was performed, and immunohistology confirmed the tumor as a schwannoma. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of a portal hepatic schwannoma requires immunohistological examinations in addition to multimodality imaging studies to reflect fully the pathohistological characteristics of the tumor.

Development of MRI Projection Mapping System for Breast-Conserving Surgery in the Operating Room: Preliminary Clinical Results in Invasive Breast Cancer.

AIM: To evaluate the feasibility of a newly developed prototype MRI projection mapping (PM) system for localization of invasive breast cancer before breast-conserving surgery. METHODS: This prospective study enrolled 10 women with invasive breast cancer. MRI was performed in both prone and supine positions. The tumor location was drawn on the breast skin using palpation and sonography while referring to the prone MRI (i.e., a conventional method). A maximum intensity projection image generated from the supine MRI was projected using our PM system, and the tumor location was drawn. The PM system consisted of a projector and a camera and was used to measure the shape of the breast surface using the structured light method. Breast-conserving surgery was performed based on the conventional method. We compared the tumor size and location between the PM and conventional methods or pathology. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the maximum diameters of invasive cancers between the PM system and the conventional method or pathology. The maximum discrepancy in tumor location between the PM and conventional method was 3-8 mm. CONCLUSIONS: This PM system may support breast-conserving surgery by showing the tumor size and location on the breast surface.

Effects of menstrual cycle on background parenchymal enhancement and detectability of breast cancer on dynamic contrast-enhanced breast MRI: A multicenter study of an Asian population.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of the menstrual cycle on BPE and cancer detectability in an Asian population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 266 premenopausal patients with regular menstrual cycles from 24 centers were included, and 176 of them were diagnosed by pathology as having breast cancer. Thirty-five patients were examined in the menstrual phase (days 1-4), 105 in the proliferative phase (days 5-14), and 126 in the secretory phase (days 15-30). Measurement of the following signal intensities (SIs) were obtained: breast tissue on the unaffected side on a pre-contrast image (SI1) and an early-phase image (SI2); the SIs of breast tissue on the affected side on a pre-contrast image (SI3) and an early-phase image (SI4); and the SIs of breast cancer on a pre-contrast image (SI5) and an early-phase image (SI6). We calculated the BPE ratio, i.e., (SI2- SI1)/SI1 and the cancer/background enhancement ratio (C/B) ratio, i.e., (SI6- SI5) / (SI4- SI3). The BPE was classified as minimal, mild, moderate, or marked, and the cancer detectability was classified as excellent, good, or poor independently by two radiologists. RESULTS: The average C/B ratio was 20.1, 15.7, and 9.1 at the menstrual, proliferative, and secretory phases (p < 0.001). BPE was determined as moderate or marked in 0% and 5.4% at the menstrual phase, 10.3% and 11.0% at the proliferative phase, and 17.5% and 21.7% at the secretory phase by the two observers, respectively (p = 0.01, p = 0.01). The detectability of breast cancer was classified as poor in 0% and 0%, 1.4% and 13.0%, and 8.0% and 22.1% at the menstrual, proliferative, and secretory phases by the two observers, respectively (p = 0.07, p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: The menstrual phase and the proliferative phase seem to be suitable for breast MRI of Asian women.

MRI Texture Analysis of Background Parenchymal Enhancement of the Breast.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine texture parameters reflecting the background parenchymal enhancement (BPE) of the breast, which were acquired using texture analysis (TA). METHODS: We investigated 52 breasts of the 26 subjects who underwent dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI. One experienced reader scored BPE visually (i.e., minimal, mild, moderate, and marked). TA, including 12 texture parameters, was performed to distinguish the BPE scores quantitatively. Relationships between the visual BPE scores and texture parameters were evaluated using analysis of variance and receiver operating characteristic analysis. RESULTS: The variance and skewness of signal intensity were useful for differentiating between moderate and mild or minimal BPE or between mild and minimal BPE, respectively, with the cutoff value of 356.7 for variance and that of 0.21 for skewness. Some TA features could be useful for defining breast lesions from the BPE. CONCLUSION: TA may be useful for quantifying the BPE of the breast.

Bazex Syndrome in Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma: High Expression of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor in Lesional Keratinocytes with Th2 Immune Shift.

An 82-year-old Japanese man was referred for detailed examination of hyperkeratotic erythematous plaques on his palms and soles for 6 months. Two weeks before his first visit, he had undergone lung lobectomy for right lung squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Laboratory findings showed elevations of eosinophil counts, serum IgE, thymus and activation-regulated chemokine, SCC antigen, and soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels. Histological results of a skin biopsy involving the left palm showed psoriasiform dermatitis. Before lung lobectomy, the hyperkeratotic erythematous plaques on the palms and soles and the erythemas on the trunk and extremities were difficult to treat with topical steroids. After lobectomy, the skin symptoms dramatically and rapidly subsided with topical steroids. Therefore, we diagnosed Bazex syndrome (BS), also known as acrokeratosis paraneoplastica, as a paraneoplastic cutaneous disease in lung SCC. The mild eosinophilia subsided and levels of SCC antigen, IgE, and soluble interleukin-2 receptor were reduced. BS is a paraneoplastic cutaneous disease characterized by acral psoriasiform lesions associated with an underlying neoplasm. In a previous report, a shift to the Th2 immune condition was found in patients with non-small cell lung cancer, as shown in our patient. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is also known as tumor growth factor-α receptor; it is increased in psoriatic keratinocytes. In our case, EGFR expression increased in lesional keratinocytes 2 weeks after surgery and decreased 4 weeks after surgery. We speculate that a shift to Th2 immune reactions in lung SCC may be the pathogenesis of BS, whereby lesional keratinocytes highly express EGFR in parallel with disease activity.

Occult Breast Lobular Carcinoma with Numerous Circulating Tumor Cells in Peripheral Blood.

We experienced a very rare case of occult breast lobular carcinoma with numerous circulating tumor cells in peripheral blood. The diagnosis was very difficult because there were no symptoms of breast cancer and the preceding chief complaints such as general fatigue and weight loss or abnormality of peripheral blood findings were suggestive of a hematological disease. We could make a correct diagnosis of this case by checking the findings of complete blood count and bone marrow biopsy at the same time using immunohistochemistry.

Two cases of primary small cell carcinoma of the breast showing non-mass-like pattern on diagnostic imaging and histopathology.

Primary small cell carcinoma of the breast is a rare breast cancer. We report two cases of this entity showing a non-mass-like pattern on multimodality images and histopathology. Both women presented with a breast mass, and one had axillary lymphadenopathy. Both cases revealed fine calcification on mammography (MMG) and an irregularly shaped, hypoechoic lesion on ultrasonography. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed non-mass-like enhancement in both cases. Dynamic MRI showed medium initial enhancement followed by persistent delayed enhancement in one patient, whereas rapid initial enhancement with plateau delayed enhancement was observed in the other. The breast lesions showed very high signal intensity on diffusion-weighted MRI. Positron emission tomography showed moderate accumulation of 2-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose in the breast tumor and lymph node metastasis. The non-mass-like enhancement on CT and MRI and the segmental fine calcification on MMG indicate the abundance of components of ductal carcinoma in situ and the breast origin of the small cell carcinoma.

Liver function test by gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging with consideration of intrahepatic regional differences.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To accurately quantify liver function using gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced MR imaging. METHODOLOGY: A total of 105 patients with suspicion of a hepatic tumor (Child­Pugh scores: 5 in 56, 6 in 26, 7 in 20, and 8 in 3) who underwent Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MR imaging and an indocyanine green retention rate at 15 min (ICG-R15) evaluation were retrospectively analyzed. The hepatobiliary images were taken at 20 min after Gd-EOB-DTPA injection. The quantitative liver­spleen contrast ratio (Q-LSC) was measured by calculating the signal intensity of the spleen and 12 intrahepatic points consisting of each central zone (near the porta hepatis) and peripheral zone (near the subcapsular zone) in the two main liver lobes. RESULTS: Each averaged Q-LSC of six points in the central zone or right lobe was significantly higher than that in the peripheral zone or left lobe regardless of hepatic function. The mean Q-LSC of the 12 points was significantly correlated with the ICG-R15 and significantly decreased with elevation of the Child­Pugh score. CONCLUSIONS: The hepatic enhancement by Gd-EOB-DTPA is influenced by zonal and lobar differences. This method with consideration of regional differences is valid for estimation of liver function by Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MR imaging.

Magnetic resonance imaging of gastrointestinal stromal tumor in the abdomen and pelvis.

This study aimed to evaluate magnetic resonance (MR) imaging appearances of 11 gastrointestinal stromal tumors in the abdomen and pelvis and compared them with some histological findings. Gastrointestinal stromal tumor showed nonhomogeneous signal intensity and included hemorrhage in large tumors. Gastrointestinal stromal tumors showed a wide variety of enhancement, and contrast enhancement of the tumor was consistent with mitosis index as well as the largest diameter of the tumor. Contrast-enhanced MR imaging may be useful in the assessment of tumor activity.