MRI-based radiomic features in histological grading of breast invasive ductal carcinoma / 医学研究生学报

Objective The histological grade of breast cancer is closely related with the treatment and prognosis of the malignancy, and radiomics plays a valuable role in the identification of its grade. This article aimed to investigate the values of the conventional parameters of breast MRI and breast MRI-based imaging features in the histological grading of breast invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC).Methods This retrospective study included 71 cases of breast cancer treated in our hospital from June 2015 to June 2016. We obtained the traditional quantitative parameters of MRI, including the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and initial enhancement rate (IER), performed manual segmentation of the ADC and DCE maps, extracted the radiomic features and analyzed the differences in the radiomic signatures between low- and high-grade IDC. Using logistic regression analysis, we assessed the values of ADC and IER and the radiomic signatures of the ADC and DCE images in differentiating low-grade from high-grade IDC.Results The values of ADC, B_sum_variance, L_SRE and R_RP were significantly lower (P0.05). In differentiating high-grade from low-grade IDC, the ADC image-based radiomic signature model achieved a significantly higher AUC (0.858 [0.774-0.924]) than the ADC (0.709 [0.588-0.830]) and DCE model (0.691 [0.565-0.818]), and the former also manifested markedly higher accuracy, specificity, and rates of positive and negative prediction than the latter two.Conclusion ADC- and MRI-based radiomic features play a valuable role in differentiating high-grade from low-grade IDC, particularly the former, which could provide even more clinical information, while IER is of little value in this aspect.

Value of mamography, CT and DCE-MRI in detecting axillary lymph node metastasis of breast cancer / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the diagnostic value of mammography, computed tomography (CT), and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) for axillary lymph node staging in breast cancer patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From February, 2014 to October, 2015, 109 women with breast cancer received examinations with preoperative mamography, CT, and DCE-MRI. The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the 3 modalities were evaluated using histopathologic assessments as the gold standard.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In total, 39.4% (43/109) of the patients had axillary lymph node metastasis. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of mamography for determining lymph node metastasis were 14.0%, 84.8%, 56.9%, 37.5% and 60.0%, respectively; those of CT were 93.0%, 57.6%, 71.6%,58.8% and 92.7%, and those of DCE-MRI were 95.3%, 65.2%, 77.1%, 64.1% and 95.6%, respectively. Compared with the histopathologic result, the Kappa coefficients of mamography, CT, and DCE-MRI were -0.13, 0.459 and 0.558, respectively. The specificity of mamography was significantly higher (P<0.05), but its sensitivity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were significantly lower than those of CT and DCE-MRI (P<0.05). Compared with CT, DCE-MRI had significantly higher sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for diagnosis of lymph node metastasis (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>DCE-MRI has a greater diagnostic power than CT and mammography, and CT has a greater diagnostic power than mammography for axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer patients. Mamography alone should be used cautiously for the diagnosis of lymph node metastasis.</p>

CT and MRI features of Castleman's disease of the abdomen and pelvis / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the CT/MRI features of Castleman's disease of the abdomen and pelvis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>CT/MRI images of 6 cases of pathologically confirmed Castleman's disease of the abdomen and pelvis were retrospectively reviewed. All the patients received plain CT scan and dynamic enhanced scan, and one had an additional MR scan.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>One case was identified as the disseminated type with multicentric enlarged lymph nodes and hepatosplenomegaly, and 5 cases were found to have localized type, of which 3 had retroperitoneal, 1 had mesentery and 1 had pelvic lesions. On CT scan, all the 5 cases with localized lesions showed single, round or ellipse soft tissue masses, with intra-tumoral calcification in 2 cases, fascial thickening around the mass in 3 cases, and satellite nodules in 4 cases. Enhanced scanning revealed obvious enhancement in the arterial phase and continuous enhancement in the portal vein and delayed phase in all the lesions, with an attenuation pattern similar to that of large vessels; enlarged blood vessels within or around the mass were displayed in each case. In 4 cases, the intra-tumoral radial or fissured non-enhanced areas in early stage of enhancement were gradually filled up as the scan time was delayed. The patient receiving MRI showed hypo-intensity on T(1)WI and hyper-intensity on T(2)WI, presenting with an enhancement feature similar to that of CT.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Castleman's disease in the abdomen and pelvis is rare and liable to misdiagnosis, but its characteristic imaging features can help in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis.</p>

Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging features of desmoid-type fibromatosis: comparison with the pathological findings / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of desmoid-type fibromatosis, and improve the diagnostic accuracy and understanding of the disease.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The CT and MRI features of 18 cases of surgically and pathologically confirmed desmoid-type fibromatosis were reviewed retrospectively. Among the patients, 10 received CT pre- and post-contrast scanning, and 8 patients had MRI pre- and post-contrast scanning. The CT and MRI features were analyzed in comparison with the pathological findings.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the extra abdominal cases, the tumors occurred in the head and neck in 3, in the dorsal part of the chest in 2, in the abdominal wall and groin area in 9, and in the peritoneal cavity in 4; concomitant Gardner syndrome was found in 1 case. In 4 cases the tumor occurred within 1 to 3 years after abdominal surgeries. Pathologically, the lesion was hard and composed of fusiform fibroblasts and myofibroblast. The cells showed no obvious heteromorphism with few karyokinesis, growing invasively and recurrent locally but without distant metastasis. Immunohistochemically, the fibroblasts and myofibroblasts expressed vimentin, and the myofibroblasts were positive for SMA. On CT and MRI, the lesion appeared benign with malignant growth pattern, and caused compression of the adjacent organs and vessels or encasement of the vessels; the border was unclear without encapsulation, and necrosis and calcification was scarce. The density and signal of the tumor were well distributed. Twelve patients displayed obvious enhancement and 5 showed uneven enhancement.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The CT and MRI features of desmoid-type fibromatosis are characteristic, and CT and MRI are valuable modalities for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of the tumor.</p>

Efficacy comparison between transplanting microenvironmental induced and non-induced bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in ischemic rat hearts / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the efficacy of transplanting bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) or microenvironmental induced BMSC (iBMSC) into the ischemic myocardium of rats with myocardial infarction.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>iBMSC was defined as BMSC co-cultured with myocardial cells for 2 weeks. The stem cells or equal volume PBS were injected into ischemic border zone 1 wk after experimental infarction. Cardiac performance was evaluated at 1, 2, and 4 wk after cell transplantation by echocardiography and analyzed histologically at 4 wk after cell transplantations.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with PBS group, both BMSC and iBMSC transplantations reduced infarct size. iBMSC enhanced the beneficial effects of BMSC on improving cardiac function (FS: 28.5% +/- 4.3% in PBS, 29.0% +/- 2.0% in BMSC and 45.1% +/- 3.1% in iBMSC group at 4 weeks post transplantation, iBMSC group vs. PBS group P < 0.05, iBMSC group vs. BMSC group P < 0.05). Immunofluorescence microscopy results revealed co-localization of SPIO-labeled transplanted cells with cardiac markers for cardiomyocytes, indicating regeneration of damaged myocardium.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Our data suggest that iBMSC implantation is more effective on improving cardiac function than BMSC implantation in this model. iBMSC might serve as a new promising therapeutic cell source for regenerating ischemic myocardium in patients with post-infarction heart failure.</p>

In vivo magnetic resonance imaging tracking of transplanted adipose-derived stem cells labeled with superparamagnetic iron oxide in rat hearts / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the feasibility of in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tracking of transplanted adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) labeled with superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) in rat heart.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>ADSCs were labeled with poly-L-lysine (PLL)-SPIO complexes. Intracellular iron uptake was identified by Prussian blue stain and transmission electromicroscopy. Trypan blue staining was used to test the viability of the labeled cells. In vitro MRI of labeled cells was performed. SPIO-labeled ADSCs were transplanted into normal rat hearts and were in vivo imaged with MRI. Image findings on MRI were correlated with histological findings of the rat hearts.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The labeling efficacy of ADSCs with PLL-SPIO was nearly 100%. Light microscopy revealed the SPIO particles were located in the cytoplasm of the ADSCs by Prussian blue staining. Transmission electromicroscopy revealed that the SPIO particles were located in the endosomes in the cytoplasm. There was no significantly deference in viability between labeled and unlabeled groups demonstrated by Trypan blue test (P > 0.05). MRI showed signal loss in gel mixed with labeled cells as compared with the unlabeled cells group and blank group. Signal void on rat hearts were demonstrated on MRI and were well correlated with histological findings where Prussian-blue-stain positive cells presented.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>MRI can be used to in vivo track the transplanted ADSCs labeled with SPIO into rat hearts and facilitate to understand the conditions of the labeled cells in the transplanted areas.</p>

A comparative study of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and pathological findings of liver fibrosis in rabbits / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the alteration of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in diffusion-weighted MR imaging (MR-DWI) of liver fibrosis and its pathological basis in rabbits.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Five rabbits in the control group and 22 with experimental liver fibrosis induced by transperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) were examined with MR-DWI. Diffusion-weighted SE EPI sequence with a relatively high b factor (b=600 s/mm2) was used to measure the ADC. The mean values of ADC were compared among the rabbits in different stages of liver fibrosis and analyzed in relation to the pathological findings.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean ADC value decreased significantly with increased severity of liver fibrosis (P<0.05). Pathologically, the amount and extension of fibrotic matrix increased, and the hepatic necroinflammation worsened with the progression of the liver fibrosis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The ADC value decreases with the progression of liver fibrosis possibly as the result of water diffusion limitation due to increased fibrous tissue in the liver and abnormal water diffusion within the intracellular and extracellular spaces.</p>

The value of multi-slice CT angiography for tumors of intra-abdominal testes / 中华放射学杂志

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic role of multi-slice CT(MSCT)angiography for tumors of intra-abdominal testes.Methods MSCT angiography of 5 cases with seminoma of intra-abdominal testes proved by surgery and pathology was analyzed.All patients were male,and the age ranged from 33 to 59 years with the mean of 43.6 years.Results(1)The arterial-supply of tumors completely came from the testicular artery of the same side.The arteries went into tumors from the posterior side.(2)The tumors had comparatively large volume with complete or incomplete amicula.The tumor density of 3 cases was inhomogeneous.The degree of entity augmentation of 5 patients was about 14—25 HU.Conclusion MSCT angiography can reveal the tumor vessel and is essential for the diagnosis of tumors of intra-abdominal testes.

Clinical manifestations and pulmonary radiological features in patients with triphosgene poisoning / 中华放射学杂志

Objective To examine the clinical manifestations and pulmonary radiological features in patients with triphosgene poisoning.Methods Clinical manifestations,laboratory tests and CT scans were analyzed retrospectively in 17 patients with triphosgene poisoning.We focused on the severity,development and repair of pulmonary impairment.Results Plain film and CT scans in five mild cases demonstrated bilateral scattered pulmonary patchy shadows.Of 12 cases with moderate to severe diseases,three showed bilateral multiple pulmonary patchy shadows and nodules with confluence of part of the lesions on plain film and CT scans;bilateral lungs were involved in nine cases with imaging findings of bilateral disseminated pulmonary round or ovary nodules with different size,ill-defined and partly-confluent patchy shadows and thickening of both interlobular septum and the wall of bronchus.Of clinical interests,imaging findings were closely correlated with clinical course and laboratory results.Conclusion Radiological examinations with plain films and CT scans could reveal the severity,evolvement of pulmonary edema in patients with triphosgene poisoning,and these are of clinical benefit in the early management and prognostic evaluation of patients with triphosgene poisoning.