The value of computer aided detection system for mammography in the fatty breast: the results of the single-centered, prospective, randomized clinical trial

Aim. To assess the reasonability to use CAD added to mammography with subsequent targeted ultrasound (US) of CAD markings in patients with low-density (ACR A-В) breasts.Materials and methods. In the prospective study we included 2326 women with low breast density. They were randomized for CAD (MammCheck II of our own design) checking with subsequent targeted US (MMG + CAD group) or without CAD (MMG only group). After the initial screening we performed the 3-year follow-up phase.Results. Totally, during the primary screening in the MMG only group we found 77 breast cancers (BCs) (28,57% of them sized less than 1 cm), in the MMG + CAD group – 69 BCs (36,23% of them sized less than 1 cm), р > 0.05. The suspicious lesion was identified only during the targeted US of the CAD marking in 4 of 25 women in the MMG + CAD group, and all these BCs were below 1 cm in size. During the subsequent follow-up in the MMG only group we found 5 additional BCs, with no such cases in the MMG + CAD group (p < 0.05). Three of these five BCs were retrospectively marked by CAD. The only visible BC that was not marked by CAD was 3 mm in size.Discussion. The overall false positive marking rate was 0.31 и 0.28 per film-screen and digital image, respectively (р > 0.05).Conclusion. The CAD usage added to mammography with subsequent targeted US of markings in patients with low-density (ACR A-В) breast is reasonable due to the significant decrease of the BC rate diagnosed during the 3-year follow-up. This combination detected 77 of the 77 (100.00%) BCs compared to 69 of 74 (93.24%) BCs when only mammography used.

Intracolic ultrasound molecular imaging: a novel method for assessing colonic tumor necrosis factor-α expression in inflammatory bowel disease

Background While anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) therapy has been proven effective in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), approximately 40% of patients lose the response. Transmembrane TNF-α (mTNF-α) expression in the intestinal mucosa is correlated with therapeutic efficacy, and quantification of mTNF-α expression is significant for predicting response. However, conventional intravenous application of microbubbles is unable to assess mTNF-α expression in intestinal mucosa. Herein, we proposed intracolic ultrasound molecular imaging with TNF-α-targeted microbubbles (MBTNF-α) to quantitatively detect mTNF-α expression in the intestinal mucosa. Methods MBTNF-α was synthesized via a biotin–streptavidin bridging method. TNF-α-targeted ultrasound imaging was performed by intracolic application of MBTNF-α to detect mTNF-α expression in surgical specimens from a murine model and patients with IBD. Linear regression analyses were performed to confirm the accuracy of quantitative targeted ultrasound imaging. Results On quantitative TNF-α-targeted ultrasound images, a greater signal intensity was observed in the mouse colons with colitis ([1.96 ± 0.45] × 106 a.u.) compared to that of the controls ([0.56 ± 0.21] × 106 a.u., P < 0.001). Targeted US signal intensities and inflammatory lesions were topographically coupled in mouse colons. Linear regression analyses in specimens of mice and patients demonstrated significant correlations between the targeted ultrasound signal intensity and mTNF-α expression (both P < 0.001). Furthermore, TNF-α-targeted ultrasound imaging qualitatively distinguished the varying inflammatory severity in intestinal specimens from IBD patients. Conclusion Intracolic ultrasound molecular imaging with MBTNF-α enables quantitative assessment of mTNF-α expression. It may be a potential tool for facilitating the implementation of personalized medicine in IBD.

Twinkling artifact in differential diagnosis of mammary calcinates

Research goal: evaluation of the possibility of using an ultrasound twinkling artifact in the detection of breast calcifications as a diagnostic criterion for breast cancer.Material and methods. A targeted ultrasound study using color Doppler mapping was performed to determine the presence of a twinkling artifact in 112 patients who had calcifications detected during X-ray mammography.Results. According to the ultrasound examination, the twinkling artifact was registered only in 10 of the 112 women examined. A pronounced twinkling artifact was registered in 3 patients, the calcifications were single, mainly lobular, with a size of more than 1 mm. In 5 cases, the flicker artifact was determined to be of moderate severity, and the distribution pattern was also dominated by single ones, more than 1 mm. Two patients with grouped calcinates had a weakly expressed twinkling artifact, their dimensions were also more than 1 mm.Conclusion. The data obtained indicate that the Doppler twinkling artifact in the mammary glands occurs only in macrocalcinates (larger than 1 mm) and, mainly, single ones. Modern ultrasound devices do not allow registering a twinkling artifact in calcinates smaller than 1 mm, which indicates that it is impossible to use Doppler color coding to detect microcalcinates as a predictor of breast cancer.

The Value of Targeted Ultrasound for the Primary Evaluation of Breast Symptoms in Pregnant Women of All Ages

Objective Data on breast imaging in symptomatic pregnant women are limited. Our aim was to assess the value of targeted breast US for the primary evaluation of breast symptoms in pregnant women of all ages. Methods This IRB-approved retrospective study included all pregnant patients who underwent targeted US for focal breast symptoms at an academic imaging facility over an 18-year period (2000–2018). Clinical, imaging, and pathology results were reviewed. Malignant outcomes were determined by histology. Benign outcomes were confirmed by pathology or ≥2 years of follow-up. Descriptive statistics and 2 × 2 contingency table analyses were performed at the presentation level. Results The study cohort comprised 178 presentations in 175 pregnant women. Mean age was 34.7 years (standard deviation, 5.2). The majority (153/178, 86.0%) were more than 30 years old. At presentation, 42.1% (75/178) were in the first trimester of pregnancy, 27.0% (48/178) in the second, and 29.8% (53/178) in the third. The most common presenting symptom was a palpable lump (162/178, 91.0%), followed by focal pain (7/178, 3.9%). The vast majority (174/178, 97.8%) of cases were non-malignant. However, targeted US detected all 4 malignancies (cancer detection rate, 22/1000; negative predictive value 136/136, 100%). Sensitivity and specificity were 100% (4/4) and 78.2% (136/174), respectively. Conclusion Benign causes of symptoms in pregnant women were far more common; malignancy was rare, accounting for only 2.2% (4/178) of cases. Targeted breast US detected all malignancies, supporting US as the primary imaging modality for evaluating symptomatic pregnant women, regardless of age.