Biostereometric analysis for breast cancer detection.

A measurement technique has been developed for noninvasive breast cancer detection. The process involves the use of close-range stereophotogrammetry as a data acquisition device for the determination of breast surface concavities. We report the methodology used to detect these surface depressions, the rationale for the study, and our preliminary findings.

Breast cancer detection utilizing biostereometric analysis.

Twelve female patients participated in a study designed to employ computer-assisted biostereometric analysis for the detection of breast masses. All breast masses were previously documented by physical examination and followed by xeromammography, stereophotography, and histopathologic confirmation of tumor type. "Contour mammograms" were produced from the biostereometric photographs. These data were analyzed first for tumor detection and location by visual inspection. A second analysis employed a computed algorithm designed to locate and measure surface aberrations that suggest the possibility of underlying breast tumor. Visual analysis yielded the exact location of breast tumors in eight of the ten malignancies; computer analysis exactly located nine of the ten malignancies. In the computer analysis, one malignancy not exactly located by quadrant was, nevertheless, located in the correct breast. The results of the study suggest that the biostereometric process may have future use in screening or prescreening procedures for breast cancer detection. It is noninvasive, applicable to large numbers of women and with suitable refinements, and capable of being fully automated.

With reference to a simple kit for short-term lymphocyte culture tested in experimental animals.

The results on blastic transformation of peripheral-blood lymphocytes from different species of experimental animals studied in short-term cell culture made with a fully pre-prepared Kit, are here illustrated and discussed. Lymphocyte donors were: mice, rats, hamsters, guinea-pigs, and rabbits. The Kit used in these experiments was the so-called Blasto-Kit, prepared by the Istituto Sieroterapico Milanese. It contains a lyophilized mixture of all the culture medium components, including the mitogen (in our study: PHA). The lyophilized mixture was diluted with the proper solvent just at the culture time, and then supplemented with 5 drops (200 mul) of whole blood. The extent of blastic transformation was evaluated in morphology, by counting the blast-like cells on culture smears; but the method provides adequate data also when lymphocyte transformation is evaluated via the extent of 3H-Tdr incorporation. The results showed quite significant discrimination (blastic indices) between the mitogen stimulated cultures and the non-stimulated controls in all the animals tested. On the other hand, different transformation extents were observed in relationship to the single animal species: it appeared that guinea-pigs, and mostly the rabbits gave the most beautiful blast-like cells, which appears to indicate that they are the most appropriate for this study among all those tested. It should be finally emphasized that : (1) the simplicity of the method makes the investigation on the transformation capability of lymphocytes easy to be carried out in every Lab; and (2), the small quantity of blood which is needed to perform the test makes it possible to investigate each single animal even in the case, when it has to be examined before, during, and after given treatments.