ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The goal of this initial clinical study was to test a new positron emission/tomography imager and biopsy system (PEM/PET) in a small group of selected subjects to assess its clinical imaging capabilities. Specifically, the main task of this study is to determine whether the new system can successfully be used to produce images of known breast cancer and compare them to those acquired by standard techniques. METHODS: The PEM/PET system consists of two pairs of rotating radiation detectors located beneath a patient table. The scanner has a spatial resolution of â¼2 mm in all three dimensions. The subjects consisted of five patients diagnosed with locally advanced breast cancer ranging in age from 40 to 55 years old scheduled for pre-treatment, conventional whole body PET imaging with F-18 Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). The primary lesions were at least 2 cm in diameter. RESULTS: The images from the PEM/PET system demonstrated that this system is capable of identifying some lesions not visible in standard mammograms. Furthermore, while the relatively large lesions imaged in this study where all visualised by a standard whole body PET/CT scanner, some of the morphology of the tumours (ductal infiltration, for example) was better defined with the PEM/PET system. Significantly, these images were obtained immediately following a standard whole body PET scan. CONCLUSIONS: The initial testing of the new PEM/PET system demonstrated that the new system is capable of producing good quality breast-PET images compared standard methods.
Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted/methods , Imaging, Three-Dimensional/methods , Information Storage and Retrieval/methods , Pattern Recognition, Automated/methods , Positron-Emission Tomography/instrumentation , Subtraction Technique , Algorithms , Artificial Intelligence , Breast/diagnostic imaging , Cluster Analysis , Computer Graphics , Computer Simulation , Equipment Design , Equipment Failure Analysis , Female , Humans , Image Enhancement/methods , Middle Aged , Models, Biological , Models, Statistical , Numerical Analysis, Computer-Assisted , Pilot Projects , Reproducibility of Results , Sensitivity and Specificity , Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted , User-Computer InterfaceABSTRACT
In the United States, mortality rates have been declining for certain tumors, For the majority of advanced stage cancer types, cure is unattainable but treatment is still evolving. Advances in the treatment of cancer can be achieved by enrolling patients in cancer clinical trials. Presently, less than 3% of adult cancer patients participate on clinical trials in the United States. Providing cancer care and access to clinical trials are a challenge in a rural state, with a dispersed population base, such as West Virginia. Building upon recognition of barriers to clinical trials awareness and access, oncology leaders in the state are in the formative stages of developing a statewide cancer clinical trials network. Realization of this network will have an enormous impact on cancer care in our state and perhaps can serve as a model for other community and physician teams for other diseases.
Subject(s)
Clinical Trials as Topic , Community Networks/organization & administration , Health Services Accessibility/organization & administration , Neoplasms/therapy , Patient Selection , Research Support as Topic/organization & administration , Humans , Rural Health Services , West VirginiaABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of adjuvant chemotherapy on normal-appearing white matter in women with breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ten patients with early-stage breast cancer who were treated with adjuvant chemotherapy and 9 age-, education-, and IQ-matched healthy controls were studied with magnetic resonance imaging. Diffusion tensor imaging was used to calculate fractional anisotropy (FA), a measure of white matter integrity. Measurements were made in the genu and splenium of the corpus callosum. Participants also completed measures of processing speed, depression, and anxiety. RESULTS: Relative to controls, patients had slower processing speed and lower FA in the genu. Processing speed was positively correlated with FA in the genu. CONCLUSION: The results of this pilot study suggest that adjuvant chemotherapy affects normal-appearing white matter in the genu of the corpus callosum and that this is related to the cognitive deficits experienced by patients.