Breast Malignancies After Mastectomy With Autologous or Implant Reconstruction.

There are multiple indications for mastectomy for breast cancer, including extent of tumor, inability to achieve negative margins after re-excision, patient preference, or prevention in women with a high lifetime risk of breast cancer. Multiple types of autologous or implant reconstruction options are available for cosmesis. Although rare, breast cancers after mastectomy can occur, and it is important for both surgeons and radiologists to be aware of the associated risk factors, common locations, and classic imaging features of these malignancies. This article reviews the types of mastectomies, reconstruction options, and information about the location, presentation, and prognosis of cancers in the reconstructed breast.

Injected Breast Materials: Review of Imaging Features and Characteristics.

In the United States, silicone and saline breast implants with their familiar radiologic appearance are the mainstays of breast augmentation. However, less well-known sequelae of unconventional injected materials introduced for cosmetic and noncosmetic purposes may also be encountered on breast imaging-for example, free silicone, paraffin and/or oil, polyacrylamide gel, autologous fat, and hyaluronic acid, which are encountered in the setting of breast augmentation. Breast injection of go-yak is not cosmetic but also results in characteristic imaging findings. Breast changes due to extravasation of chemotherapy or interstitial brachytherapy can mimic the appearance of injected noncosmetic materials. Because many of these materials can mimic or obscure imaging findings of breast cancer, it is important to recognize their varied appearances and the limitations of imaging alone in delineating breast injection material from cancer. Given the relatively uncommon incidence of injected materials into the breast, this article aims to review the imaging appearance in order to aid radiologists in maximizing cancer detection and ensuring optimal patient management.

Charged with Discharge: A Case-based Review of Nipple Discharge Using the American College of Radiology's Appropriateness Guidelines.

Nipple discharge, a relatively common presenting symptom for women of all ages, may be due to both benign and malignant conditions. Men can also present with nipple discharge, and when they do, they have a higher likelihood of malignancy than women. Radiologists vary in their evaluation of patients with nipple discharge, although the American College of Radiology practice guidelines for nipple discharge provides data-driven appropriate algorithms. In patients with physiologic discharge, imaging is not typically indicated. For those with pathologic nipple discharge, imaging typically starts with diagnostic mammography and retroareolar ultrasound for women over 40 years of age, diagnostic mammogram or ultrasound for women aged 30-39 years, and ultrasound for women younger than 30 years. Finally, contrast-enhanced breast MRI or galactography are usually reserved for identifying the cause of discharge when initial imaging with mammography and ultrasound is unrevealing.

Validation of organ procurement and transplant network (OPTN)/united network for organ sharing (UNOS) criteria for imaging diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Imaging diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) presents an important pathway for transplant exception points and priority for cirrhotic patients. The purpose of this retrospective study is to evaluate the validity of the new Organ Procurement and Transplant Network (OPTN) classification system on patients undergoing transplantation for HCC. METHODS: One hundred twenty-nine patients underwent transplantation for HCC from April 14, 2006 to April 18, 2011; a total of 263 lesions were reported as suspicious for HCC on pretransplantation magnetic resonance imaging. Magnetic resonance imaging examinations were reviewed independently by two experienced radiologists, blinded to final pathology. Reviewers identified major imaging features and an OPTN classification was assigned to each lesion. Final proof of diagnosis was pathology on explant or necrosis along with imaging findings of ablation after transarterial chemoembolization. RESULTS: Application of OPTN imaging criteria in our population resulted in high specificity for the diagnosis of HCC. Sensitivity in diagnosis of small lesions (≥1 and <2 cm) was low (range, 26%-34%). Use of the OPTN system would have resulted in different management in 17% of our population who had received automatic exception points for HCC based on preoperative imaging but would not have met criteria under the new system. Eleven percent of the patients not meeting OPTN criteria were found to have T2 stage tumor burden on pathology. CONCLUSIONS: The OPTN imaging policy introduces a high level of specificity for HCC but may decrease sensitivity for small lesions. Management may be impacted in a number of patients, potentially requiring longer surveillance periods or biopsy to confirm diagnosis.

The use of bone age for bone mineral density interpretation in a cohort of pediatric brain tumor patients.

BACKGROUND: Skeletal bone accretion occurs throughout childhood. The integrity of this process can influence future adult bone health and the risk of osteoporosis. Although surveillance of children who are at risk of poor bone accretion is important, the most appropriate method to monitor childhood bone health has not been established. Previous investigators have proposed using bone age (BA) rather than chronological age (CA) when interpreting bone mineral density (BMD) values in children. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of BA assessment for BMD measurement in a cohort of children at risk of poor accretion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cohort of 163 children with brain tumors who completed both a BMD assessment (quantitative computed tomography, QCT) and who had a BA within a 6-month interval were identified. The difference in BMD Z-scores determined by CA and BA was determined. The impact of salient clinical features was assessed. RESULTS: No significant difference between CA and BA Z-scores was detected in the overall cohort (P = 0.056). However, the scores in 18 children (all boys between the ages of 11 years and 15 years) were statistically determined to be outliers from the values in the rest of the cohort. CONCLUSION: Interpretation of BMD with BA measurement might be appropriate and affect treatment decisions in peripubertal males.

MR imaging of osteonecrosis of the knee in children with acute lymphocytic leukemia.

This essay illustrates various patterns of progression of osteonecrosis of the knee and the relationship between early MR imaging findings and radiologic outcome in children with acute lymphocytic leukemia. It also includes a review of nonosteonecrosis signal abnormalities, which are common in the knee region and are often transient. Such abnormalities must be distinguished from osteonecrosis, which can lead to joint collapse and predispose to secondary arthritis.