CT Features of Vasculitides Based on the 2012 International Chapel Hill Consensus Conference Revised Classification

Vasculitis, characterized by inflammation of vessel walls, is comprised of heterogeneous clinicopathological entities, and thus poses a diagnostic challenge. The most widely used approach for classifying vasculitides is based on the International Chapel Hill Consensus Conference (CHCC) nomenclature system. Based on the recently revised CHCC 2012, we propose computed tomography (CT) features of vasculitides and a differential diagnosis based on location and morphological characteristics. Finally, vasculitis mimics should be differentiated, because erroneous application of immunosuppressive drugs on vasculitis mimics may be ineffective, even deteriorating. This article presents the utility of CT in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of vasculitides.

Partially Cystic Thyroid Nodules: Ultrasound Findings of Malignancy

OBJECTIVE: To seek for the ultrasound (US) findings of partially cystic thyroid nodules that are associated with malignancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the US characteristics of 22 surgically confirmed partially cystic papillary carcinomas, and compared them with those of 80 benign partially cystic nodules. The review cases were selected in a random order from a total of 1029 partially cystic nodules that were diagnosed with an US-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy over a period of 8 years (June 2003 to October 2010) at our institution. RESULTS: In partially cystic thyroid nodules, a taller-than-wide shape (100%, p < 0.001) and spiculated or microlobulated margin (58.3%, p = 0.003) were significantly associated with malignancy. In terms of internal solid portion of the nodule, eccentric configuration (68.0%, p < 0.001), non-smooth margin (81.3%, p < 0.001), hypoechogenecity (30.0%, p < 0.042), and microcalcification (89.5%, p < 0.001) were more frequently demonstrated in malignant nodules than benign ones. CONCLUSION: In partially cystic thyroid nodules, understanding the characteristics of US findings is important to make a precise diagnosis of malignant nodules.

Ultrasound and Clinicopathological Characteristics of Triple Receptor-Negative Breast Cancers / 한국유방암학회지

PURPOSE: Triple receptor-negative (TRN) breast cancer is associated with high risk of recurrence and poor prognosis. The present study assessed the clinicopathologic characteristics and ultrasound (US) features of TRN breast cancers. METHODS: Pathological and biological data were reviewed for 558 breast cancer patients treated at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, between January 2003 and December 2009. The patients were separated into TRN breast cancer and non-TRN breast cancer groups, based on the results of immunohistochemical prognostic panels. Clinical and pathologic features were compared for the two groups. US features, including shape, orientation, margins, boundaries, echo patterns, posterior acoustic features, surrounding tissues, and microcalcifications, were determined for 41 TRN patients and 189 non-TRN controls (ER+/PR+/HER2-). RESULTS: Of 558 cases, 58 (10.4%) had the TRN phenotype. Four hundred and thirty-four cases (77.8%) were invasive ductal carcinomas. TRN cancer was significantly associated with specific characteristics of tumor size, nuclear grade, histologic grade, venous invasion, and lymphatic invasion. With respect to US features, TRN cancers were more likely to have an oval shape, a circumscribed margin, and marked hypoechogenicity. CONCLUSION: Tumor characteristics were different between TRN and non-TRN breast cancers, although US cannot differentiate the subtype of breast cancers TRN cancer tend to show somewhat different US morphology.

A Case of Metachronous Metastasis to the Breast from Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

Breast metastases from an extramammary primary tumor are very rare and the prognosis for such patients is generally poor. We report here on a case of a 42-year-old female with metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer to the breast, and she is now being followed up on an outpatient basis. In 2004, she presented with a solitary pulmonary nodule in the left lung, and this lesion had been noted to have gradually increased in size over time. The final pathological diagnosis was adenocarcinoma, and the diagnosis was made by performing percutaneous needle aspiration and lobectomy of the left upper lobe. Adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy were given. Unfortunately, a nodule in the left breast was noted three years later, and metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer to the breast was diagnosed by excisional biopsy. Making the correct diagnosis to distinguish a primary breast carcinoma from a metastatic one is important, because the therapeutic plan and outcome for these two types of cancer are quite different.

Imaging and Clinicopathologic Characteristics of Breast Cancers in Younger Group Compared to in Old Group / 한국유방암학회지

PURPOSE: We wanted to evaluate the difference of the images and the clinicopathological characteristics of young-age female breast cancer patients as compared to older Korean women with breast cancer. METHODS: A total of 351 breast cancers cases during the previous 3 years were evaluated. A cut-off level of 40 years was used to divide the patients into the young (40 years, 265 cases, 75.5%). We reviewed the BI-RADS results, the sensitivity of mammography (MMG) and sonography (US), the presenting symptoms, the histopathological type, the post-operative stage and the receptor status. These factors were compared between the young age group and the older age group. Chi-squared tests were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: BI-RADS category 1 disease on the MMG (12.8% vs 6.4%, respectively) and BI-RADS category 3 disease on the US (3.5% vs 1.1%) were more common for the younger group as compared to the older group. The sensitivity of MMG and US was lower for the younger group than for the older group (69.2% and 82.3% vs 84.5% and 93.3%, respectively). Clinical symptom, histopathology, final stage, and the size of tumor or receptor status did not show statistical significant differences. CONCLUSION: Imaging young women breast cancers were less sensitive, more frequently assessed as normal on MMG and as more probably benign on US, and no clinicopathological differences were shown.

Preoperative Diagnosis of Extraglandular Invasion of Thyroid Papillary Carcinoma: High Resolution Sonography versus Multidetector Computed Tomography

PURPOSE: To compare the diagnostic efficacy of high-resolution sonography (HRS) and multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) in determining the presence of extraglandular invasion of thyroid papillary cancer and to define ultrasound (US) features of perithyroidal invasion that correlate with histopathological findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively evaluated extracapsular invasion in 177 thyroid cancer patients using both HRS and MDCT. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) were assessed with a four-point confidence scale (0 = no extracapsular invasion; 1 = possible invasion; 2 = probable invasion; 3 = definite invasion) by two reviewers for each imaging modality. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were analyzed for each modality, along with interobserver variability. RESULTS: MDCT had a mean area under the ROC curve larger than that of HRS (HRS = 0.733, MDCT = 0.807, p < 0.05). HRS and MDCT were significantly different with regard to diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for extrathyroidal extension (p < 0.05; HRS = 75.7%, 66.1%, and 69.8%, respectively; MDCT = 86.7%, 69.7%, and 76%, respectively). Interobserver reliability was greater for MDCT than for HRS (kappa value, 0.861 versus 0.429). The cutoff value used in HRS for estimating the status of perithyroidal invasion was 2. CONCLUSION: HRS may be useful for preoperative investigation of thyroid papillary carcinoma extension, but it was inferior to MDCT because of lower diagnostic accuracy and lower interobserver reliability.

Extracolonic Findings of CT Colonography: Frequency Analysis between Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Patients

PURPOSE: To perform a frequency analysis of the extracolonic findings (ECF) of the CT colonography between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-two consecutive symptomatic patients and sixty-three consecutive asymptomatic patients who underwent CT colonography were enrolled in this study. Non-contrast enhanced axial images were reviewed retrospectively to identify the ECF and classified them as major, moderate or minor important findings according to their potential clinical importance. The frequencies of each classification and ECF were analyzed and compared between two groups (symptomatic and asymptomatic). RESULTS: Eighty-two ECF were identified in 49 (68.1%) of the 72 symptomatic patients. The findings were classified as follows: major (8/49, 11.1%), moderate (17/49, 23.6%), minor (39/49, 54.2%). Sixty ECF were detected in 38 (60.3%) of the 63 asymptomatic patients. The findings were classified as follows: major (2/38, 3.2%), moderate (7/38, 11.1%), minor finding (35/63, 55.6%). No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups (p > 0.05) for the overall ECF frequency. However, a significantly higher frequency of major or moderate ECF was observed in symptomatic patients (30.6%) compared to asymptomatic patients (12.7%) (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The overall ECF frequency was similar between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients; however, the frequency of clinically important ECF (major or moderate) was higher in symptomatic patients, compared to asymptomatic patients. This result suggests that the major or moderate ECF required a further work up or treatment in symptomatic patients.

Imaging Findings of Implanted Absorbable Mesh in Patients with Breast Partial Resection

PURPOSE: The author presents imaging findings of patients that underwent partial resection of the breast followed by absorbable mesh implantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ultrasonographic (n=18) and mammographic (n=11) images of patients that had undergone absorbable mesh implantation after breast partial resection were reviewed retrospectively. Sequential changes of the lesions were analyzed in follow-up ultrasonographic examinations, focusing on the change of the size and pattern of the lesion. The presence of a mass, asymmetry, focal asymmetry, architectural distortion, and calcification were evaluated by mammography. Pathologic findings of the implanted mesh in available cases were analyzed. RESULTS: Ultrasonograms revealed a well-encapsulated anechoic lesion with (pattern 1, n=11) or without (pattern 2, n=5) internal isoechoic nodular portion, and a hyperechoic mass-like lesion without anechoic portion (pattern 3, n=2). The mean length of the longest diameter decreased gradually as determined in follow-up examinations (3 months, 6.12 +/- 2.599cm; 6 months, 5.08 +/- 2.105cm; 12 months, 3.26 +/- 2.206cm). In mammograms, a mass (n=4) was noted at the surgical site and focal asymmetry, overlapping with the postoperative change, was seen in the remaining seven cases. Pathologic findings of two cases revealed foreign body reaction. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonography of the patients that underwent breast partial resection followed by absorbable mesh implantation showed a well-encapsulated cyst at the surgical site that gradually decreased in follow-up examinations. Adjunctive ultrasonography combined with mammography would be recommended in postoperative follow-up examinations.

The Role of the Use of US-guided Vacuum-Assisted Breast Biopsy for the Total Removal of Sonographic Evidence in Low- and High-Risk Benign and Malignant Breast Lesions

PURPOSE: To determine the role of the use of a US-guided vacuum-assisted biopsy for the removal of sonographic evidence (excisional mammotome) for low- and high-risk benign and malignant breast lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the pathological results of 678 excisional mammotomes (611 low- and 46 high-risk benign and 21 malignant lesions). We compared the pathological results of the excisional mammotomes and the corresponding subsequent surgery of 27 high-risk benign (7/46 cases) and malignant (20/21 cases) lesions. We also reviewed the follow-up US findings of low- (306/611 cases) and high-risk benign lesions (33/39 cases). RESULTS: Fifteen of 27 (55.6%) surgical cases revealed a residual lesion on the excisional mammotome. There was no case of upgrade pathology seen for a surgical specimen. Follow-up sonography of 306 low-risk benign lesions showed a negative finding for 231 (75.2%) cases, post-biopsy changes in 56 (17.8%) cases, and residual lesions in 19 (5.7%) cases. None of the lesion was palpable. Follow-up sonography of 33 high-risk benign lesions revealed a negative finding in 28 (85%) cases, a post-biopsy scar in 4 (12%) cases, and a local recurrence in 1 (3%) case; none of the cases showed a residual lesion. CONCLUSION: We suggest that an excisional mammotome can replace surgical excision for low-risk cases and may avoid the immediate surgery for high-risk benign lesions; however, surgery is crucial for a malignancy.

Comparison of Lesion Conspicuity of Radiofrequency Ablation Zones among MR Sequences According to Time in the Normal Rabbit Liver

PURPOSE: To compare the lesion conspicuity of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) zones among MR sequences according to time in the normal rabbit liver. MATERIALS AND METHODS: RFA zones were created in 12 rabbit livers with a 17-gauge internally cooled electrode (1-cm active tip, 30 Watts, 3 minutes). Three rabbits were sacrificed immediately, three days, two weeks, and six weeks after the RFA procedure, respectively. Before sacrifice, T1-, T2-weighted images (WI), and gadolinium-enhanced (GE)-T1WI images were obtained. The lesion conspicuity of the RFA zone and the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of the RFA zone to the liver parenchyma were analyzed and compared among the MR sequences according to time. RESULTS: On T1WI, the RFA zones were only clearly seen on acute phase. On T2WI, the RFA zones were clearly seen on all phases except the hyperacute phase. On GE T1WI, the RFA zones were clearly seen on all phases. The CNRs of the RFA zone to the liver parenchyma of GE-T1WI (8.1-12.4) were significantly higher than the CNRs of TIWI (1.6-2.7) and T2WI (1.7-6.3) on all phases (p < 0.05), but the visual lesion conspicuity between GE T1WI and T2WI were similar. CONCLUSION: On hyperacute phase, GE T1WI showed better lesion conspicuity of the RFA zone than T1WI and T2WI. On other phases, GE T1WI and T2WI showed similar lesion conspicuity.

Ultrasonographic Findings of an Implanted Absorbable Mesh in Patients with Breast Partial Resection: a Preliminary Study

PURPOSE: To present the ultrasonographic findings of an implanted absorbable mesh in patients who underwent breast partial resection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the ultrasonographic findings of 18 patients who underwent breast partial resection with an absorbable mesh implant to minimize the breast deformity. Sonography was performed approximately 3 months after surgery (mean interval, 92 days). The presence of a capsule and cyst at the surgical site, the size of the cyst, internal content of the cyst, vascularity of the lesion, and presence of complications were analyzed. RESULTS: An ultrasound examination revealed a well-encapsulated cyst with regular capsule in 16 of the 18 patients. The longest diameter of the cyst varied from 3 cm to 10 cm. Among 16 cases that showed a well-encapsulated cyst, 11 cases showed an isoechoic nodular pattern in the cyst and in the remaining five cases, the internal nodular pattern was not seen. In two of the18 cases, an isoechoic nodular pattern without fluid content was seen for the lesions. A Doppler study revealed no vascularity in any of the lesions. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonographic findings of an implanted absorbable mesh, inserted in the surgical site to minimize breast deformity in patients that underwent breast partial resection, showed the presence of a well-encapsulated cyst with an internal isoechoic nodular pattern in the majority of the cases.

Ferucarbotran-Enhanced MR Imaging of the Radiofrequency Ablation Zones in the Normal Rabbit Liver: Comparison with the Conventional MR Imaging

PURPOSE: We wanted to evaluate the findings of ferucarbotran-enhanced MR imaging of the radiofrequency (RF) ablation zones in normal rabbit livers and we compared the findings with the conventional MR imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: RF ablation zones were created in the livers of 12 rabbits in vivo by using a 17-gauge internally cooled electrode with 1-cm active tip, and RF energy (maximum power: 30 Watt) was applied for three minutes. Three rabbits were sacrificed immediately and then at three days, two weeks and six weeks after RF ablation. Before sacrifice, the T1- and T2-weighted images (WI) and the ferucarbotran-enhanced T2*WIs were obtained and compared regarding the signal intensity of ablation zone, the laminar pattern of the signal intensity and the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of the ablation zone to the liver parenchyma. RESULTS: On T1- and T2WIs, the RF ablation zones showed two to four laminar patterns of signal intensity according to the time. Meanwhile, on the ferucarbotran-enhanced T2WIs, the RF ablation zones showed high signal intensity without a laminar pattern regardless of time. The CNRs of the ablation zones to the liver parenchyma on the ferucarbotran-enhanced T2*WIs (18.2+/-5.9) were significantly higher than those of the TIWIs (1.6+/-1.5) and T2WIs (2.7+/-1.9) (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: On the ferucarbotran-enhanced T2*WI, the RF ablation zones showed high signal intensity without a distinct laminar pattern and significantly higher lesion conspicuity than did the conventional T1- and T2WIs. Therefore, the ferucarbotran-enhanced T2*WI shows the RF ablation zone more accurately and clearly than do the conventional T1- and T2WIs.

A Case of Monophasic Fibrous Synovial Sarcoma Confirmed Primary Pulmonary Origin by 18F-FDG PET/CT / 결핵및호흡기질환

Most malignant mesenchymal tumors of the lung are metastases of a primary tumor from elsewhere in the body. A primary pulmonary synovial sarcoma is a very rare neoplasm that accounts for approximately 10% of soft tissue sarcomas and makes up only 0.5% of all primary lung malignancies. We report a case of a primary pulmonary synovial sarcoma in a 60-year old woman. In this case, a lung metastasis was excluded using 18F-FDG PET /CT imaging.

Severe Exogenous Lipoid Pneumonia Following Ingestion of Large Dose Squalene: Successful Treatment with Steroid / 결핵및호흡기질환

Exogenous lipoid pneumonia (ELP) is an uncommon condition resulting from aspiration or inhalation of vegetable, animal or mineral oil. It results in foreign body type inflammatory reaction of the lung and can show various clinical presentations from asymptomatic incidental finding to severe pneumonia leading to acute respiratory failure. Although many cases have been reported, severe ELP requiring steroid or whole lung lavage for treatment is rare. We report a case of 51-year old man with esophageal cancer who developed severe ELP following ingestion of large dose shark oil (Squalene) and successfully treated with prednisolone.

US-guided Vacuum-assisted Breast Biopsy with Air Localization for Patients with Microcalcifications

PURPOSE: Stereotactic vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (SV AB) has recently been introduced as an alternative to the traditional surgical excisional biopsy with needle localization (NLBB). Although SVAB has excellent sensitivity and specificity with very low false negative results, patients might complain about the uncomfortable table and the painful breast compression that is done during SVAB. Furthermore, the cost of SVAB is too expensive to be widely adopted in Korea. So we developed a new technique of vacuum-assisted breast biopsy with air localization (VAB-AL) for the patients suffering with microcalcifications. METHODS: From April 2005 to Oct 2005, 10 microcalcification patients, whose lesions were difficult to be seen on breast ultrasonography, underwent vacuum-assisted breast biopsies with air localization (VAB-AL). First, classical NL was done to localize the mammographic abnormalities. Instead of insertion of the wire, 1 cc amounts of air were injected through a needle. The injected air could be easily visualized as a hyperechogenic density on breast sonography. Vacuum-assisted breast biopsy for the air-induced hyperechogenic densities was then done under sonographic guidance. The specimen radiography was performed to confirm that the lesion was removed. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 46 (range: 37~55). The upper-outer quadrant of the breast was the most common site of the lesions (6/10, 60%); the upper-inner quadrant (2/10, 20%), and then the lower-inner quadrant (1/10, 10%) followed. The specimen radiology for all 10 patients showed that the mammographic abnormalities were successfully removed. The most common pathologic type was fibrocystic disease (6/10, 70%); intraductal carcinoma (3/10, 30%), and then atypical ductal hyperplasia (1/10, 10%) followed. There were no major complications. CONCLUSION: Vacuum-assisted breast biopsy with air localization is a new technique that can minimize the complaints of patients with microcalcifications about the uncomfortable table, the painful breast compression and the economic burden of SVAB. This new procedure was successfully performed in our 10 patients, and we believe this procedure shows a lot of promise as one of alternatives to classical NLBB and SVAB.

The Results and Usefulness of Marker Clip Placement after Ultrasound-guided Mammotome Excision of Breast Lesion

PURPOSE: We wanted to know the results and the usefulness of placing a marker clip (a surgical titanium clip) after ultrasound (US)-guided excisional mammotome biopsy for breast lesion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We have placed marker clips at the biopsy sites after performing US-guided excisional mammotome biopsies in 24 cases (mean age; 46 years, mean size of the 12.6 mm, pathologic results; benign in 19 cases, malignant in 5 cases) from Nov. 2003 to Jun. 2004. We designed the needle that we used. Twenty-five cases of follow-up sonography (at 1-month follow-up; 13 cases, at 6-months follow-up; 12 cases) were performed for 18 cases of clip placement. We retrospectively reviewed the success rate and the complications for 24 cases of clip placement, and we analyzed the visibility, conspicuity and location of the clips on 25 cases of follow-up sonography for 18 cases of clip placement. RESULTS: The marker clip is successfully placed in all 24 cases (100%). None of the patients complained of pain or infection, except for 1 case of a large hematoma (3.5 cm). On the follow-up sonography, the titanium clip was well visualized as a short echogenic line on the interval follow-up (for the 1-month follow-up; 85%, for the 6 month follow-up; 84%) and parenchymal composition of the breast was well observed at the location of the clip (intraparenchymal; 80%, parenchyma-fat interface; 90%). The clips were easily found when there was hematoma (85%) or scar (89%). Marker clips were found within the hematoma, scar or the distorted region of tissue in all cases (100%), and there was no evidence of migration on the post-biopsy findings. CONCLUSION: Marker clip placement after US-guided excisional mammotome biopsy is a simple, inexpensive and successful (100%) procedure without any significant complications. Because the maker clips were easily found and well visualized within the biopsy site on follow-up sonography, clip placement was useful as a post-biopsy marker.

The Usefulness of US-guided Vacuum-Assisted Breast Biopsy for Probably Benign Lesions

PURPOSE: We wished to determine the usefulness of ultrasound-guided vacuum-assisted biopsy (mammotome) for the removal of the breast lesions that had displayed benign evidence on sonography. METHODS: During an 11 month period, vacuum-assisted breast biopsy was performed for 186 probably benign lesions on sonography using 11-gauge (127 cases) and 8-gauge (59 cases) devices. The age of the patients ranged from 19 to 65 years, and the size of the lesions ranged from 0.4 to 3 cm. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical findings and medical history of the patients who underwent vacuum- assisted breast biopsy, and we then evaluated the complications, the histopathologic results, and the follow-up US findings. RESULTS: Of the 186 cases, the lesions were palpated in 95 cases (51%), and lesions were detected in women during a screening examination in 40 cases (36%), and lesions were detected in women having a history of benign breast biopsy or having a cancer operation in the remaining 18 cases (10%). Severe bleeding during or after the procedures was noted in 4 cases (2.2%). The lesions were pathologically proved as benign in 185 cases and malignant in 1 case. With vacuum-assisted breast biopsy, high-risk benign disease was found in 7 cases, but none of the lesions was pathologically upgraded on the subsequent open surgical biopsy. On the 3-month follow-up US, variable sized hematomas were observed in 6 of 24 cases (25%). We performed incidental treatment on four of the vacuum- assisted breast biopsy patients for nipple discharge that was caused by intraductal papilloma. CONCLUSION: US-guided vacuum-assisted breast biopsy is a minimally invasive, fast and convenient biopsy technique. In addition, it is safe and accurate to use for the histological diagnosis because it would remove all the sonographically demonstrated evidence of a probable benign lesion. This technique can potentially be a useful alternative to some forms of surgical biopsy for the properly selected patients.

Correlation of Contrast-Enhanced MR Findings and Tumor Microvessel Density of Breast Masses

PURPOSE: To compare the contrast-enhanced dynamic MR findings of solid breast masses with their histopathologic tumor angiogenesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two cases of pathologically proved breast lesions (8 benign and 24 malignant lesions) examined with contrast-enhanced MRI were retrospectively reviewed, focusing on the tumor size, the maximum amount of contrast enhancement (% Signal Intensity Change, SIC), the time to peak (early or late peak) and the type of time-signal intensity curve (TSC). We compared the characteristic MR findings of breast cancer with the microscopic maximum microvessel density (MVD). RESULTS: Among the total of 11 small lesions ( or = 20). On the other hand, among the 21 large lesions (> 2 cm, 15 malignant and 6 benign), only two cases of malignant and five cases of benign lesions showed high MVD. More than 100% SIC was observed in a total of 11 malignant and two benign lesions, but 8 of these 11 malignant lesions showed low MVD (< 20), whereas the two benign lesions showed high MVD. Early time to peak (< or = 3 min) was observed in 18 (17 malignant and 1 benign) lesions, and 11 of these 17 malignant lesions showed low MVD. An early high peak and early or slow wash-out pattern, which is typical of the malignant type, was seen in 18 (17 malignant and 1 benign) lesions, but 12 of these 17 malignant lesions showed low MVD. There is no statistically significant correlation between the characteristic MR findings of breast cancer and the MVD. CONCLUSION: Although high MVD indicated malignancy in the case of the small lesions, the histopathologic MVD was not significantly correlated with either the increased amount of enhancement, early time-to peak or the malignant pattern of the TSC.

SENSE (Sensitivity Encoding) for Diffusion Tensor Imaging of the Brain

PURPOSE: The sensitivity encoding (SENSE) technique is increasingly being used with clinical MRI scanners. The object of this study is to compare the normative human data and image quality of the diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) with sensitivity encoding (SENSE) and standard single-shot EPI techniques. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 16 normal volunteers underwent single-shot echo-planar DTI with both standard and SENSE sequences using a 1.5 T Philips Intera MR scanner (TR/TE=6755/74 or 5871/66 ms, echo train length 127 or 67, NEX=3, matrix=128x128, FOV=220x220 mm, slice thickness=4 mm, b value=600 s/mm2, six orthogonal diffusion gradients). The diffusion tensor-encoded MR images were transferred to a PC workstation and analyzed using in-house software. The fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps were calculated. The presence of artifacts (ghost susceptibility, eddy current) was graded with a two- or three-point scale. The ADC and FA values were measured in the major white matter tract and gray matter nuclei. The signal-to-noise ratio was also measured. Fisher's exact test and the Mann-Whitney test were used for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: With SENSE, the acquisition time was reduced from 2 min 57 sec to 1 min 22 sec for DTI. Susceptibility artifacts (around the brain stem and temporal base) and eddy current artifacts were significantly reduced on the SENSE DTI as compared with those on the standard DTI (p<0.05). No ghost artifacts were observed on the SENSE DTI, whereas such artifacts were observed in 14 cases (87.5%) on the standard DTI. The ADC value was not significantly different between the SENSE DTI and the standard DTI, whereas the FA values in the cerebral cortex and white matter were significantly higher on the SENSE DTI than on the standard DTI (p<0.05). The signal-to-noise ratio was 8.44 on the standard DTI and 11.40 on the standard DTI. CONCLUSION: The use of SENSE DTI significantly reduces the geometric distortion caused by artifacts, shortens the acquisition time, and allows a relatively high SNR to be maintained, but tends to erroneously increase the FA value of the tissue. Therefore, DTI with SENSE may provide better white matter fiber tracking and diffusivity indices when the imaging parameters for SENSE are optimized.

Expression of Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 and Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 in Radiation Exposed Small Intestinal Mucosa of the Rat / 대한방사선종양학회지

PURPOSE: The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of enzymes whose main function is the degradation of the extracellular matrix. Several studies have revealed that MMPs and TIMPs are related to the wound healing process and in photoaging caused by ultraviolet irradiation. However, the expressions of MMP and TIMP after irradiation have not, to the best of our knowledge, been studied. This study investigates the expressions of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in rat intestinal mucosa following irradiation. Material and Methods:The entire abdomen of Sprague-Dawley rats was irradiated using a single dose method. The rats were sacrificed on day 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 14 following irradiation. Histopathological observations were made using hematoxilin & eosin staining. The expressions of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 were examined using immunohistochemistry, immunoblotting and ELISA. RESULTS: Radiation induced damage, associated with atrophic villi, and infiltration of inflammatory cells was observed from the first postirradiation day, and severe tissue damage was observed on the second and the third postirradiation days. An increase in mitosis and the number of regenerating crypts, as evidence of regeneration, were most noticeable on the fifth postirradiation day. From the immunohistochemistry, the MMP-2 expression was observed from the first postirradiation day, but was most conspicuous on the third and the fifth postirradiation days. The TIMP-2 expression was most conspicuous on the fifth postirradiation day. From the immunoblotting, the MMP-2 expression was strongly positive on the third postirradiation day, and that of TIMP-2 showed a strong positive response on the fifth postirradiation day. In ELISA tests, the expressions of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 were increased in the postirradiation groups compared to those of the normal controls, and showed a maximum increase on the fifth postirradiation day. These results were statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The expressions of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 were increased in the intestinal mucosa of the rats following irradiation, and these results correlated with the histopathological findings, such as tissue damage and regeneration. Therefore, this study suggests that MMP-2 and TIMP-2 play roles in the mechanisms of radiation-induced damage and regeneration of intestinal mucosa of rats.