ABSTRACT
Molecular imaging is concerned with the presentation, description and quantification of biological and physiological processes at the cellular and molecular level. Most recently molecular imaging has started to become established in breast diagnostics. This review article will give an overview of procedures which are either in the preclinical development stage or which have already become clinically established. Molecular nuclear medicine breast imaging (breast-specific gamma imaging [BSGI] and positron emission mammography [PEM]) together with specific radiotracers and contrast media will be discussed. The possibilities for magnetic resonance imaging in functional (DWI) and metabolic (MRSI) imaging of breast lesions and the combined application of nuclear medicine and magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) will be explained. Furthermore, an overview on the preclinical procedure and the possible clinical applications of optical and photoacoustic imaging will be given.
Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms/diagnosis , Breast Neoplasms/genetics , Diagnostic Imaging/methods , Molecular Diagnostic Techniques/methods , Breast Neoplasms/pathology , Breast Neoplasms/therapy , Contrast Media/administration & dosage , Diagnostic Imaging/instrumentation , Female , Humans , Lymphatic Metastasis/pathology , Molecular Diagnostic Techniques/instrumentation , Neoplasm Staging , Precision Medicine/methods , Predictive Value of Tests , Prognosis , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
To classify a liver tumor, image-guided percutaneous biopsy of a liver lesion is indicated. Using ultrasound (US) to guide a biopsy needle into a liver lesion has been proven useful and safe. If a lesion cannot be seen on US or the access to a lesion has been complicated by its position, CT-guided biopsy can be performed. If a lesion cannot be delineated on US or CT, MR-guided biopsy is recommended. Using hepatospecific contrast agents, the time span to delineate tumor tissue can be prolonged. To differentiate diffuse liver disease, transvenous biopsy under fluoroscopic control can be performed if a percutaneous biopsy is contraindicated. In recent years fine-needle aspiration biopsy has been increasingly replaced by coaxial 14-20 G core biopsy, which is a safe and efficient technique to classify liver lesions and has a low complication rate.
Subject(s)
Biopsy, Fine-Needle/methods , Biopsy, Needle/methods , Liver Neoplasms/pathology , Liver/pathology , Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Interventional , Surgery, Computer-Assisted , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Ultrasonography, Interventional , Biopsy, Fine-Needle/instrumentation , Biopsy, Needle/instrumentation , Humans , Postoperative Complications/diagnosis , Robotics , Sensitivity and SpecificityABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND AIM: Atherosclerosis and its clinical sequelae are responsible for the highest death rate in industrialized countries. Seroepidemiological, pathological and immunohistochemical studies have suggested a relation between Chlamydia pneumoniae infection and the development of coronary sclerosis. Aim of this study was to investigate the frequency distribution of Chlamydia pneumoniae antibody titers in patients with different clinical stages of coronary artery disease (CAD) and patients without CAD as well as a possible age dependence of antibody titers within the study groups. For this purpose, 522 consecutive patients of a cardiology ward were investigated, over a period of 10 months, for the presence of Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies (IgG, IgA, IgM) using specific ELISA's. In general, there was no difference in the frequency of positive Chlamydia antibody titers between CAD patients and the control group. Only in the subgroup of unstable CAD-patients < 50 years a tendency of increased antibody titers was present. Patients with stable angina, unstable angina, or acute myocardial infarction exhibited no significant differences in the rate of infection between the different age groups (p < 0.117). In contrast, there was a significant increase in positive Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies with increasing age in the control group (p = 0.002). The relatively high incidence of positive Chlamydia pneumoniae antibody titers in young CAD patients, which is associated with a loss of age-dependent increase of the antibody titers in the CAD group, might indicate a specific role of Chlamydia pneumoniae infections for the manifestation of premature CAD (before the age of 50). Due to the increased rate of Chlamydia pneumoniae infections with increasing age, the determination of Chlamydia pneumoniae antibody titers does not allow reliable conclusions on the infectious pathogenesis of CAD. Furthermore, our unability to demonstrate differences in antibody titers between CAD patients with stable angina, unstable angina, and acute myocardial infarction suggests that acute Chlamydia pneumoniae infections are not responsible for the development of acute coronary syndromes.
