Comparative Evaluation of Iodine-125 Radioactive Seed Localization and Wire Localization for Resection of Breast Lesions.

PURPOSE: Radioactive seed localization (RSL) uses a titanium seed labeled with iodine-125 energy for surgery of nonpalpable breast lesions. RSL facilitates radiology-surgery scheduling and allows for improved oncoplasty compared with wire localization (WL). The purpose of this work was to compare the 2 techniques. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of all breast lesions operated with RSL between February 2013 and March 2015 at our university institution, and compared with an equivalent number of surgeries performed with a single WL. Imaging and pathology reports were reviewed for information on guidance mode, accuracy of targeting, nature of excised lesion, size and volume of surgical specimen, status of margins, and reinterventions. RESULTS: A total of 254 lesions (247 women) were excised with RSL and compared with 257 lesions (244 women) whose surgery was guided by WL. Both groups were comparable in lesion pathology, guidance mode for RSL or WL positioning, and accuracy of targeting (98% correct). Mean delay between biopsy and surgery was 84 days for RSL versus 103 after WL (P = .04). No differences were noted after RSL or WL for surgical specimen mean weight, largest diameter, and volume excised. For malignancies, the rate of positive margins was comparable (2.8%-3%), with 5 of 10 women in the RSL group who underwent a second surgery displaying residual malignancy compared with 3 of 9 women in the WL group. CONCLUSIONS: RSL is safe and accurate, and has comparable surgical endpoints to WL. Because RSL offers flexible scheduling and facilitated oncoplasty, RSL may replace WL for resection of nonpalpable single breast lesions.

Case 201: glomus tumor of the breast.

History A 55-year-old woman presented to our breast clinic with 1-year history of lancinating pain in the right breast that was exacerbated by blunt pressure and cold temperature. She denied any family history of breast cancer or any personal history of trauma, infection, or surgery of the breast. On clinical examination, exquisite pain was generated by simple light pressure over the upper outer quadrant of the right breast. Mammography and ultrasounography (US) with Doppler analysis of the right breast were painful but were performed with the least pressure possible.

Molecular classification of infiltrating breast cancer: toward personalized therapy.

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease, which comprises several molecular and genetic subtypes, each with characteristic clinicobiologic behavior and imaging patterns. Traditional classification of breast cancer is based on the histopathologic features but offers limited prognostic value. Novel molecular characterization of breast cancer with cellular markers has allowed a new classification that offers prognostic value, with predictive categories of disease aggressiveness. These molecular signatures also open the door to personalized therapeutic options, with new receptor-targeted therapies. For example, invasive cancer subtypes such as the luminal A and B subtypes show better prognosis and response to hormone receptor-targeted therapies compared with the triple-negative subtypes; on the other hand, triple-negative tumors respond better than luminal tumors to chemotherapy. Tumors that display amplification of the oncogene ERBB2 (also known as the HER2/neu oncogene) respond to drugs directed against this oncogene, such as trastuzumab. The imaging aspects of tumors correlate with molecular subgroups, as well as other pathologic features such as nuclear grade. Smooth tumor margins at mammography may be suggestive of a triple-negative breast cancer, and a human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive tumor is characteristically a spiculated mass with calcifications. Low-grade ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is better detected with mammography, although magnetic resonance (MR) imaging may allow better characterization of high-grade DCIS. MR imaging diffusion sequences show higher values for the apparent diffusion coefficient for triple-negative and HER2-positive subtypes, compared with luminal A and B tumors. MR imaging is also a useful tool in the prediction of tumor response after chemotherapy, especially for triple-negative and HER2-positive subtypes.

Breast reconstruction: review of surgical methods and spectrum of imaging findings.

Breast reconstruction after mastectomy is often requested by women with breast cancer who are ineligible for breast-conserving therapy and women with a high genetic risk for breast cancer. Current breast reconstruction techniques are diverse and may involve the use of an autologous tissue flap, a prosthetic implant, or both. Regardless of the technique used, cancer may recur in the reconstructed breast; in addition, in breasts reconstructed with autologous tissue flaps, benign complications such as fat necrosis may occur. To detect breast cancer recurrences at a smaller size than can be appreciated clinically and as early as possible without evidence of metastasis, radiologists must be familiar with the range of normal and abnormal imaging appearances of reconstructed breasts, including features of benign complications as well as those of malignant change. Images representing this spectrum of findings were selected from the clinical records of 119 women who underwent breast magnetic resonance (MR) imaging at the authors' institution between January 2009 and March 2011, after mastectomy and breast reconstruction. In 32 of 37 women with abnormal findings on MR images, only benign changes were found at further diagnostic workup; in the other five, recurrent breast cancer was found at biopsy. Four of the five had been treated initially for invasive carcinoma, and one, for multifocal ductal carcinoma; three of the five were carriers of a BRCA gene mutation. On the basis of these results, the authors suggest that systematic follow-up examinations with breast MR imaging may benefit women with a reconstructed breast and a high risk for breast cancer recurrence.

A plea for the biopsy marker: how, why and why not clipping after breast biopsy?

In the last decade, percutaneous breast biopsies have become a standard for the management of breast diseases. Biopsy clips allow for precise lesion localization, thus minimizing the volume of breast to be resected at the time of surgery. With the development of many imaging techniques (including mammography, sonography, and breast magnetic resonance imaging), one of the challenges of the multidisciplinary became to synthesize all informations obtained from the various imaging procedures. The use of biopsy markers after percutaneous biopsy is one of the keys for optimal patient management, helping the radiologist to deal with multiple lesions, to insure correlation across different imaging modalities and to follow-up benign lesions, helping the oncologist by marking a tumor prior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, helping the surgeon by facilitating preoperative needle localization, to precisely mark the margins of extensive disease and to guide intraoperative tumor resection, and helping the pathologist to insure the lesion of interest has been removed and to identify the region of interest in a mastectomy specimen. We believe biopsy clip markers should be deployed after all percutaneous interventions and present in this review the arguments to support this statement. Minimal indications for clip deployment will also be detailed.

Nonmasslike enhancement at breast MR imaging: the added value of mammography and US for lesion categorization.

PURPOSE: To determine the value of adding conventional imaging (mammography and ultrasonography [US]) to nonmasslike enhancement (NMLE) analysis with breast magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for predicting malignancy and for building an interpretation model incorporating all imaging modalities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The institutional ethics committees approved the study and granted a waiver of informed consent. In 115 women (mean age, 48.3 years; range, 21-76 years; 56 malignant, 12 high-risk, and 63 benign lesions), 131 NMLE lesions were analyzed. Two independent readers first classified MR images by using descriptive Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) criteria (BI-RADS classification with MR images alone [BI-RADS(MR)]) and later repeated this classification, adding information from conventional imaging (BI-RADS classification with combination of MR images and conventional images [BI-RADS(MR+Con)]). Lesion diagnosis was established with surgical histopathologic findings (n = 68), percutaneous biopsy results (n = 25), or 2 years of stability at MR imaging (n = 38). Receiver operating characteristic curves were built to compare BI-RADS(MR) with BI-RADS(MR+Con). A multivariate interpretation model was constructed and validated in a distinct cohort of 44 women. RESULTS: Values for inter- and intraobserver agreement, respectively, were better for BI-RADS(MR+Con) (κ = 0.847 and 0.937) than for BI-RADS(MR) (κ = 0.748 and 0.861). For both readers, the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCs) for diagnosis of malignancy were also superior when BI-RADS(MR+Con) (AUC = 0.91 [reader 1] and 0.93 [reader 2]) was compared with BI-RADS(MR) (AUC = 0.84 [reader 1] and 0.87 [reader 2]) (P < .05). An interpretation model combining conventional imaging with MR imaging criteria showed very good discrimination (AUC = 0.89 [training set] and 0.90 [validating set]). CONCLUSION: Adding conventional imaging to NMLE lesion characterization at breast MR imaging improved the diagnostic performance of radiologists, and the interpretation model used offers good accuracy with the potential to optimize the reproducibility of NMLE analysis at MR imaging.

Microcalcifications around a collagen-based breast biopsy marker: complication of biopsy with a percutaneous marking system.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to present the cases of four women who underwent percutaneous breast biopsy with deployment of a titanium metallic marker embedded in a bioresorbable collagen plug. Routine follow-up mammography after benign pathologic results were obtained revealed new fine microcalcifications at the biopsy sites, requiring repeat biopsy. Pathologic examination confirmed the presence of microcalcifications associated with an acidophilic foreign material. CONCLUSION: Awareness that development of microcalcifications can complicate biopsy performed with collagen-based markers is important for correct mammographic interpretation and management.

Breast abscesses: evidence-based algorithms for diagnosis, management, and follow-up.

Radiologists who regularly perform breast ultrasonography will likely encounter patients with breast abscesses. Although the traditional approach of surgical incision and drainage is no longer the recommended treatment, there are no clear guidelines for management of this clinical condition. Breast abscesses that develop in the puerperal period generally have a better course than nonpuerperal abscesses, which tend to be associated with longer treatment times and a higher rate of recurrence. The available literature on treatment of breast abscesses is imperfect, with no clear consensus on drainage, antibiotic therapy, and follow-up. By synthesizing the data available from studies published in the past 20 years, an evidence-based algorithm for management of breast abscesses has been developed. The proposed algorithm is easy to follow and has been validated by a multidisciplinary team approach and applied successfully during the past 2 years. Breast abscesses are a challenging clinical condition, and radiologists have a pivotal role in evaluation and follow-up of these lesions.

Idiopathic gigantomastia in a patient on polypharmacy.

Gigantomastia is an uncommon benign condition characterized by massive breast enlargement. It is most often due to hormonal imbalance secondary to puberty or pregnancy, or induced by a pharmacological agent but can also be idiopathic. Herein, we report a rare case of idiopathic gigantomastia in a 46-year-old female on antiepileptic multiple-drug therapy who underwent total bilateral mastectomy to relieve associated pain.

Significant reduction of antibiotic use in the community after a nationwide campaign in France, 2002-2007.

BACKGROUND: Overuse of antibiotics is the main force driving the emergence and dissemination of bacterial resistance in the community. France consumes more antibiotics and has the highest rate of beta-lactam resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae than any other European country. In 2001, the government initiated "Keep Antibiotics Working"; the program's main component was a campaign entitled "Les antibiotiques c'est pas automatique" ("Antibiotics are not automatic") launched in 2002. We report the evaluation of this campaign by analyzing the evolution of outpatient antibiotic use in France 2000-2007, according to therapeutic class and geographic and age-group patterns. METHODS AND FINDINGS: This evaluation is based on 2000-2007 data, including 453,407,458 individual reimbursement data records and incidence of flu-like syndromes (FLSs). Data were obtained from the computerized French National Health Insurance database and provided by the French Sentinel Network. As compared to the preintervention period (2000-2002), the total number of antibiotic prescriptions per 100 inhabitants, adjusted for FLS frequency during the winter season, changed by -26.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] -33.5% to -19.6%) over 5 years. The decline occurred in all 22 regions of France and affected all antibiotic therapeutic classes except quinolones. The greatest decrease, -35.8% (95% CI -48.3% to -23.2%), was observed among young children aged 6-15 years. A significant change of -45% in the relationship between the incidence of flu-like syndromes and antibiotic prescriptions was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The French national campaign was associated with a marked reduction of unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions, particularly in children. This study provides a useful method for assessing public-health strategies designed to reduce antibiotic use.

Critical Orientation in the Jungle of Currently Available Methods and Types of Data for Source Attribution of Foodborne Diseases.

With increased interest in source attribution of foodborne pathogens, there is a need to sort and assess the applicability of currently available methods. Herewith we reviewed the most frequently applied methods for source attribution of foodborne diseases, discussing their main strengths and weaknesses to be considered when choosing the most appropriate methods based on the type, quality, and quantity of data available, the research questions to be addressed, and the (epidemiological and microbiological) characteristics of the pathogens in question. A variety of source attribution approaches have been applied in recent years. These methods can be defined as top-down, bottom-up, or combined. Top-down approaches assign the human cases back to their sources of infection based on epidemiological (e.g., outbreak data analysis, case-control/cohort studies, etc.), microbiological (i.e., microbial subtyping), or combined (e.g., the so-called 'source-assigned case-control study' design) methods. Methods based on microbial subtyping are further differentiable according to the modeling framework adopted as frequency-matching (e.g., the Dutch and Danish models) or population genetics (e.g., Asymmetric Island Models and STRUCTURE) models, relying on the modeling of either phenotyping or genotyping data of pathogen strains from human cases and putative sources. Conversely, bottom-up approaches like comparative exposure assessment start from the level of contamination (prevalence and concentration) of a given pathogen in each source, and then go upwards in the transmission chain incorporating factors related to human exposure to these sources and dose-response relationships. Other approaches are intervention studies, including 'natural experiments,' and expert elicitations. A number of methodological challenges concerning all these approaches are discussed. In absence of an universally agreed upon 'gold' standard, i.e., a single method that satisfies all situations and needs for all pathogens, combining different approaches or applying them in a comparative fashion seems to be a promising way forward.

Source attribution of human campylobacteriosis at the point of exposure by combining comparative exposure assessment and subtype comparison based on comparative genomic fingerprinting.

Human campylobacteriosis is a common zoonosis with a significant burden in many countries. Its prevention is difficult because humans can be exposed to Campylobacter through various exposures: foodborne, waterborne or by contact with animals. This study aimed at attributing campylobacteriosis to sources at the point of exposure. It combined comparative exposure assessment and microbial subtype comparison with subtypes defined by comparative genomic fingerprinting (CGF). It used isolates from clinical cases and from eight potential exposure sources (chicken, cattle and pig manure, retail chicken, beef, pork and turkey meat, and surface water) collected within a single sentinel site of an integrated surveillance system for enteric pathogens in Canada. Overall, 1518 non-human isolates and 250 isolates from domestically-acquired human cases were subtyped and their subtype profiles analyzed for source attribution using two attribution models modified to include exposure. Exposure values were obtained from a concurrent comparative exposure assessment study undertaken in the same area. Based on CGF profiles, attribution was possible for 198 (79%) human cases. Both models provide comparable figures: chicken meat was the most important source (65-69% of attributable cases) whereas exposure to cattle (manure) ranked second (14-19% of attributable cases), the other sources being minor (including beef meat). In comparison with other attributions conducted at the point of production, the study highlights the fact that Campylobacter transmission from cattle to humans is rarely meat borne, calling for a closer look at local transmission from cattle to prevent campylobacteriosis, in addition to increasing safety along the chicken supply chain.

Is the outcome at surgery different when flat epithelial atypia and lobular neoplasia are found in association at biopsy?

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact on the final outcome at surgery of flat epithelial atypia (FEA) when found concomitantly with lobular neoplasia (LN) in biopsy specimens compared with pure biopsy-proven FEA. METHODS: The approval from the institutional review board of the CHUM (Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Montréal) was obtained. A retrospective review of our database between 2009 and 2013 identified 81 females (mean age 54 years, range 38-90 years) with 81 FEA biopsy-proven lesions. These were pure or associated with LN only in 59/81 (73%) and 22/81 (27%) cases, respectively. Overall, 57/81 (70%) patients underwent surgery and 24/81 (30%) patients underwent mammographic surveillance with a mean follow-up of 36 months. RESULTS: FEA presented more often as microcalcifications in 68/81 (84%) patients and were mostly amorphous in 49/68 (72%). After excluding radio pathologically discordant cases, pure FEA proved to be malignant at surgery in 1/41 (2%; 95% confidence interval 0.06-12.9). There was no statistically significant difference in the upgrade to malignancy whether FEA lesions were pure or associated to LN at biopsy (p = 0.4245); however, when paired in biopsy specimens, these lesions were more frequently associated with atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) at surgery than with pure FEA (p = 0.012). CONCLUSION: Our results show a 2% upgrade rate to malignancy of pure FEA lesions. When FEA is found in association with LN at biopsy, surgical excision yields more frequently ADH than pure FEA thus warranting close surveillance or even surgical excision. Advances in knowledge: The association of LN with FEA at biopsy was more frequently associated with ADH at surgery than with pure FEA. If a biopsy-proven FEA lesion is deemed concordant with the imaging finding, when paired with LN at biopsy, careful surveillance or even surgical excision is suggested.

Lupus mastitis as a first manifestation of systemic disease: About two cases with a review of the literature.

Lupus mastitis is an uncommon manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) that affects the subcutaneous fat in the breast, much like lupus panniculitis, but additionally involves the mammary gland. We report on two women for whom lupus mastitis was the initial manifestation of SLE and provide a literature review of 34 additional cases reported in the Anglo-Saxon and French literature since 1971, making this the largest review to date. Lupus mastitis (LM) can manifest clinically as subcutaneous masses that may be painful, or may present cutaneous involvement such as thickening and discolouration. The radiologic manifestations of LM are broad and include calcifications, masses and asymmetries. Most often, excluding malignancy requires percutaneous biopsy, with histologic findings that are virtually pathognomonic for SLE. Thus, surgery is avoided and medical management can begin, antimalarial drugs and corticosteroids in most cases.

Breast Biopsies Under Magnetic Resonance Imaging Guidance: Challenges of an Essential but Imperfect Technique.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided breast biopsy is an essential tool of a breast imager; yet, a decade after its introduction, this technique remains challenging and imperfect. This article presents the technique of MRI-guided biopsy, with an emphasis on challenges particular to the technique: technical considerations related to adequate lesion sampling and difficulties in confirming radiologic-pathologic correlation for enhancing lesions. Through clinical vignettes, challenges unique to MRI-guided biopsy are discussed and practical tips are offered. Prebiopsy planning including second-look targeted studies, patient preparation, and equipment is covered. Challenging situations pertaining to breast size, lesion location, or type of enhancement are illustrated, as well as the topic of performing multiple MRI-guided breast biopsies in a single session and biopsies of women with implants. Postbiopsy management is discussed. Success of MRI-guided biopsies requires careful prebiopsy planning, as well as appropriate choice of biopsy device, optimized for the specifics of breast shape and lesion size and location. Special features of biopsy systems (smaller apertures and blunt tips) facilitate the sampling of lesions in challenging locations. Vanishing lesions should undergo short-term follow-up, because malignancy cannot be excluded, as should lesions diagnosed as benign after pathologic analysis when the result is felt to be concordant with imaging features. To this end, radiologic-pathologic correlation is essential. Underestimation rates after MRI-guided breast biopsy are superior to those for vacuum-assisted stereotactic biopsy and ultrasound-guided biopsy. Close follow-up and rebiopsy should be considered when there is imaging-discordant histology. For benign and concordant histology, a first follow-up can be offered at 6 months.

Breast imaging reporting and data system (BI-RADS) lexicon for breast MRI: interobserver variability in the description and assignment of BI-RADS category.

PURPOSE: To retrospectively evaluate interobserver variability between breast radiologists when describing abnormal enhancement on breast MR examinations and assigning a BI-RADS category using the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) terminology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five breast radiologists blinded to patients' medical history and pathologic results retrospectively and independently reviewed 257 abnormal areas of enhancement on breast MRI performed in 173 women. Each radiologist described the focal enhancement using BI-RADS terminology and assigned a final BI-RADS category. Krippendorff's α coefficient of agreement was used to asses interobserver variability. RESULTS: All radiologists agreed on the morphology of enhancement in 183/257 (71%) lesions, yielding a substantial agreement (Krippendorff's α=0.71). Moderate agreement was obtained for mass descriptors - shape, margins and internal enhancement - (α=0.55, 0.51 and 0.45 respectively) and NME (non-mass enhancement) descriptors - distribution and internal enhancement - (α=0.54 and 0.43). Overall substantial agreement was obtained for BI-RADS category assignment (α=0.71). It was however only moderate (α=0.38) for NME compared to mass (α=0.80). CONCLUSION: Our study shows good agreement in describing mass and NME on a breast MR examination but a better agreement in predicting malignancy for mass than NME.

Comparative effectiveness of ACC-deaminase and/or nitrogen-fixing rhizobacteria in promotion of maize (Zea mays L.) growth under lead pollution.

Lead (Pb) pollution is appearing as an alarming threat nowadays. Excessive Pb concentrations in agricultural soils result in minimizing the soil fertility and health which affects the plant growth and leads to decrease in crop production. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are beneficial bacteria which can protect the plants against many abiotic stresses, and enhance the growth. The study aimed to identify important rhizobacterial strains by using the 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) enrichment technique and examine their inoculation effects in the growth promotion of maize, under Pb pollution. A pot experiment was conducted and six rhizobacterial isolates were used. Pb was added to 2 kg soil in each pot (with 4 seeds/pot) using Pb(NO3)2 at the rate of 0, 100, 200, 300, and 400 mg kg(-1) Pb with three replications in completely randomized design. Rhizobacterial isolates performed significantly better under all Pb levels, i.e., 100 to 400 Pb mg kg(-1) soil, compared to control. Comparing the efficacy of the rhizobacterial isolates under different Pb levels, rhizobacterial isolates having both ACC-deaminase and nitrogen-fixing activities (AN8 and AN12) showed highest increase in terms of the physical, chemical and enzymatic growth parameters of maize, followed by the rhizobacterial isolates having ACC-deaminase activity only (ACC5 and ACC8), and then the nitrogen-fixing rhizobia (Azotobacter and RN5). However, the AN8 isolate showed maximum efficiency, and highest shoot and root length (14.2 and 6.1 cm), seedling fresh and dry weights (1.91 and 0.14 g), chlorophyll a, b, and carotenoids (24.1, 30.2 and 77.7 µg/l), protein (0.82 mg/g), proline (3.42 µmol/g), glutathione S-transferase, peroxidase and catalase (12.3, 4.2 and 7.2 units/mg protein), while the lowest Pb uptake in the shoot and root (0.83 and 0.48 mg/kg) were observed under this rhizobial isolate at the highest Pb level (i.e., 400 Pb mg kg(-1) soil). The results revealed that PGPR significantly decreases the deleterious effects of Pb pollution and increases the maize growth under all Pb concentrations, i.e., 100-400 Pb mg kg(-1) soil. PGPR chelate the Pb in the soil, and ultimately influence its bioavailability, release and uptake. The PGPR having both ACC-deaminase and nitrogen-fixing abilities are more effective and resistive against Pb pollution than PGPR having either ACC-deaminase or nitrogen-fixing activity alone. The ACC enrichment technique is an efficient approach to select promising PGPR.

Chronic granulomatous mastitis: Imaging, pathology and management.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to describe the clinical and radiological presentation of chronic granulomatous mastitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and radiological data of 11 women with histologically proven chronic granulomatous mastitis (CGM) diagnosed between March 2008 and September 2011. RESULTS: The diagnosis of CGM is often a challenging one that can mimic infectious and malignant breast conditions. Clinically, CGM most commonly presents as a mass, occasionally with associated erythema. The most frequent mammographic presentation is an asymmetric density, while ultrasound most commonly reveals a hypoechoic mass with tubular extensions and a striated echotexture. On MRI, the most specific finding is peripherally enhancing fluid or solid masses with fistulous tract to the skin, although the latter is not commonly encountered. Diagnosis can be reliably obtained by needle core or vacuum-assisted biopsy, and is established pathologically by the identification of granulomatous inflammation without caseous necrosis. CGM is a diagnosis of exclusion after infectious and foreign body causes are ruled out. Treatment options include oral steroids or surgery; both options are associated with similar recurrence rates. The disease tends to burn itself out and the option of conservative management with observation is a valid one. CONCLUSION: CGM is a rare benign disease with no specific features clinically or at imaging. There are no radiologic findings that are specific of CGM, but in the appropriate clinical setting, the diagnosis can be suggested by the radiologist.