Usefulness of Preoperative Breast MRI in Breast Cancer Patients Diagnosed with Tumor Removal Using a US-guided Mammotome

PURPOSE: We evaluated the MRI findings that suggested the presence of a residual cancer after a mammotome biopsy in pathologically proven breast cancer patients and the usefulness of MRI to diagnose a residual cancer and additional lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 41 breast cancer patients that underwent an ultrasonography-guided mammotome biopsy for complete resection of a breast lesion. MRI was performed for preoperative assessment and MRI findings suggestive of a residual cancer at the procedure site were analyzed and correlated to the pathological findings. Additional enhancements on breast MRI were analyzed, and the diagnostic accuracy of MRI for occult additional lesions was calculated. RESULTS: A total of 32 (78.0%) patients had a residual tumor. A mass was the most common MRI finding that suggested a residual cancer. Thick rim enhancement or a mass with a non-mass like enhancement were the most suspicious findings that suggested the presence of a residual cancer. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of MRI for the detection of a residual cancer were 81.3%, 66.7% and 78.0%, respectively. Additional malignant lesions were found in 7 cases. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of MRI for the detection of additional lesions were 100%, 60.0% and 76.5%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Further complete surgery should be performed, as residual tumors are found in 50% of the negative MRI examinations, whereas preoperative MRI is helpful to evaluate occult additional lesions.

Assessment of the Image Quality and Diagnostic Accuracy of Coronary CT Angiography: Effect of Sublingual Administration of Nitroglycerin

PURPOSE: We wanted to investigate the effect of sublingual nitroglycerin (NTG) on improving the image quality and diagnostic accuracy of coronary computed tomographic angiography (CTA) for detecting atherosclerosis and significant stenosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively assessed the data of 81 patients who underwent coronary CTA. Forty three patients underwent coronary CTA without medication (the non-administrated group), while 38 patients were given 0.6 mg NTG sublingually before coronary CTA (the administrated group). Image quality was assessed using a five-point grading scale. We evaluated the diagnostic performance of coronary CTA for assessing atherosclerosis and significant stenosis (> or = 50%) in the 42 patients who underwent invasive coronary angiography. RESULTS: The mean image-quality grades were 4.09+/-0.72 and 4.50+/-0.60 in the non-administrated and administrated groups, respectively (p=0.008). On the per-artery analysis, the accuracy percentages for detecting coronary CTA were 65 and 88% for atherosclerosis and 82 and 80% for significant stenosis in the non-administrated and administrated groups, respectively. On the per-patient analysis, the positive predictive values for coronary CTA were 80% and 100% for atherosclerosis and 77% and 88% for significant stenosis in the non-administrated and administrated groups, respectively. CONCLUSION: Coronary CTA with NTG administration improved the image quality. The accuracy of coronary CTA for detecting atherosclerosis was higher in the administrated group than in the non-administrated group.