FAST breast magnetic resonance imaging: a new approach for breast cancer screening?

OBJECTIVE: To develop an abbreviated breast magnetic resonance imaging protocol (FAST) and to compare it with the complete protocol (FULL) to determine its diagnostic accuracy for detecting malignant or suspicious lesions (BI-RADS 4, 5 and 6) and the time required for image interpretation using BI-RADS categorization. METHODS: Retrospective study with 100 consecutive women who underwent breast magnetic resonance imaging between January and February 2014. All patients were submitted to a complete breast magnetic resonance imaging protocol, which was then compared with an abbreviated protocol (pre-contrast sequence, second post-contrast sequence and subtraction of pre- from post-contrast images). RESULTS: Of 100 patients, 4 were classified as BI-RADS 5 or 6 and 16 as BI-RADS 4. In these 20 patients, there was full agreement among readers regarding the final BI-RADS categorization in both (FAST and FULL) protocols. CONCLUSION: The FAST protocol reduces interpretation time without compromising the accuracy of the method for detection of malignant or suspicious lesions.

Virtual hepatectomy and metastasectomy 3D simulation using an automated and semiautomated tool applied to preoperative CT in the treatment of colorectal cancer metastases.

Colorectal cancer represents the most common malignancy of the gastrointestinal tract and the second most frequently diagnosed malignancy in adults. The most common site of metastases is the liver and 40% of patients in stage IV have liver only disease.1 Hepatic metastases are the major determinants of morbidity and mortality in these patients, with surgery being the treatment of choice or even curative in these cases.2 Therefore, aggressive surgeries should be considered in patients with liver only disease. In this context, hepatectomy and metastasectomy have emerged as promising techniques for improving survival in patients with metastatic disease, also providing long-term cure.3 The use of liver volumetrics, tridimensional reconstructions with vessel extraction and 3D virtual surgery simulations allows better surgical planning and potentially decrease transfusions, surgery time and complications.4 For major hepatectomies (>4 resected segments), surgical planning with computed angiotomography and liver remnant volume calculation potentially increases the safety of surgery. We report a case in which preoperative 3D surgical simulation was crucial for conducting a safe major hepatectomy in a patient with multiple colorectal liver metastases.

FAST breast magnetic resonance imaging: a new approach for breast cancer screening?

ABSTRACT Objective To develop an abbreviated breast magnetic resonance imaging protocol (FAST) and to compare it with the complete protocol (FULL) to determine its diagnostic accuracy for detecting malignant or suspicious lesions (BI-RADS 4, 5 and 6) and the time required for image interpretation using BI-RADS categorization. Methods Retrospective study with 100 consecutive women who underwent breast magnetic resonance imaging between January and February 2014. All patients were submitted to a complete breast magnetic resonance imaging protocol, which was then compared with an abbreviated protocol (pre-contrast sequence, second post-contrast sequence and subtraction of pre- from post-contrast images). Results Of 100 patients, 4 were classified as BI-RADS 5 or 6 and 16 as BI-RADS 4. In these 20 patients, there was full agreement among readers regarding the final BI-RADS categorization in both (FAST and FULL) protocols. Conclusion The FAST protocol reduces interpretation time without compromising the accuracy of the method for detection of malignant or suspicious lesions.