Feasibility study comparing synthesized mammography with digital breast tomosynthesis and digital mammography for simulated first round screening in a single BreastScreen NSW centre.

INTRODUCTION: While digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) has proven to enhance cancer detection and reduce recall rates (RR), its integration into BreastScreen Australia for screening has been limited, in part due to perceived cost implications. This study aims to assess the cost effectiveness of digital mammography (DM) compared with synthesized mammography and DBT (SM + DBT) in a first round screening context for short-term outcomes. METHODS: Clients recalled for nonspecific density (NSD) as a single lesion by both readers at the Northern Sydney Central Coast BreastScreen service in 2019 were included. Prior images were excluded to simulate first-round screening. Eleven radiologists read DM and synthesized mammography with DBT (SM + DBT) images 4 weeks apart. Recall rates (RR), reading time, and diagnostic parameters were measured, and costs for screen reading and assessment were calculated. RESULT: Among 65 clients studied, 13 were diagnosed with cancer, with concordant cancer recalls. SM + DBT reduced recall rates (RR), increased reading time, maintained cancer detection sensitivity, and significantly improved other diagnostic parameters, particularly false positive rates. Benign biopsy recalls remained equivalent. While SM + DBT screen reading cost was significantly higher than DM (DM AU$890 ± 186 vs SM + DBT AU$1279 ± 265; P < 0.001), the assessment cost (DM AU$29,504 ± 9427 vs SM + DBT AU$18,021 ± 5606; P < 0.001), and combined screen reading and assessment costs were significantly lower (DM AU$30,394 ± 9508 vs SM + DBT AU$19,300 ± 5721; P = 0.001). SM + DBT screen reading and assessment of 65 patients resulted in noteworthy cost savings (AU$11,094), equivalent to assessing 12 additional clients. CONCLUSION: In first round screening, DBT yields significant cost savings by effectively reducing unnecessary recalls to assessment while maintaining diagnostic efficacy.

Student learning of head and neck anatomy using cone beam computed tomography and immersive virtual reality.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of student learning of anatomy and 3D imaging concepts using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and immersive virtual reality (VR) technology. METHODOLOGY: Ninety (n = 90) first year dental students with no previous experience in 3D imaging were recruited. All participants completed a 10-item, multiple-choice questionnaire (MCQ) and a pre-survey prior to the educational intervention. Following a brief video orientation on CBCT and anatomy, each participant underwent a one-on-one educational intervention using immersive VR with calibrated instructors to identify head and neck anatomic structures using a VR/CBCT educational tool. Immediately following the intervention, all participants completed a postsurvey, a second MCQ, NASA task load index and presence questionnaires. Participants completed a third MCQ 2 weeks following the intervention. Analysis of objective measures of performance on MCQ's (p < 0.05) and subjective data from the questionnaires was completed. RESULTS: The students doubled their mean test scores 2.45 ± 1.274 to 5.99 ± 1.576 on MCQ's immediately following the educational intervention (p < 0.05). The significant increase in the MCQ test scores was maintained after 2 weeks, 5.73 ± 1.721 (p < 0.05). There were no gender differences in student test performance. Students rated the immersive VR/CBCT educational intervention experience highly for control, sensory, and realism factors with minimal distraction and frustration factors. CONCLUSION: Results from this study show that immersive VR/CBCT educational intervention improved test performance and contributed to information recall in students. Further benefits reported by participants include the sense of presence and increased engagement using immersive VR.

A rapid, automated surface protein profiling of single circulating exosomes in human blood.

Circulating exosomes provide a promising approach to assess novel and dynamic biomarkers in human disease, due to their stability, accessibility and representation of molecules from source cells. However, this potential has been stymied by lack of approaches for molecular profiling of individual exosomes, which have a diameter of 30-150 nm. Here we report a rapid analysis approach to evaluate heterogeneous surface protein expression in single circulating exosomes from human blood. Our studies show a differential CD47 expression in blood-derived individual circulating exosomes that is correlated with breast cancer status, demonstrating a great potential of individual exosome profiles in biomarker discovery. The sensitive and high throughput platform of single exosome analysis can also be applied to characterizing exosomes derived from other patient fluids.