Imaging Features of Triple Negative Breast Cancer and the Effect of BRCA Mutations.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to review the mammographic and the ultrasound features of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients and to investigate the potential effect of BRCA mutations on the imaging features of these patients. METHODS: One hundred and seven patients with TNBC were enrolled in a retrospective study following IRB approval and approval of waiver of informed consent. BRCA mutations were assessed using genetic testing. Imaging features on mammography and ultrasound (US) as well as pathology and clinical information were retrospectively reviewed and characterized according to the BI-RADS lexicon (fifth edition). The relationships between BRCA mutations and the imaging findings were examined. RESULTS: TNBC commonly presented as an irregular mass with obscured margins on mammography and as an irregular hypoechoic mass with microlobulated or angular margins on US. Approximately two thirds of TNBC cases had a parallel orientation and approximately one third had posterior enhancement, features often associated with benign masses. There was no statistically significant difference in the mammographic and the US features of BRCA positive and BRCA negative triple negative tumors. CONCLUSION: TNBC may have a parallel orientation and posterior enhancement, which are features often seen with benign masses. BRCA mutations do not affect the imaging features of triple negative breast tumors.

Aortic arch tortuosity, a novel biomarker for thoracic aortic disease, is increased in adults with bicuspid aortic valve.

INTRODUCTION: Arterial tortuosity has emerged as a predictor of adverse outcomes in congenital aortopathies using 3D reconstructed images. We validated a new method to estimate aortic arch tortuosity on 2D CT. We hypothesize that arch tortuosity may identify bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) patients at high risk to develop thoracic aortic aneurysms or aortic dissections (TAD). METHODS: BAV subjects with chest CT scans were retrospectively identified in our clinical records and matched to tricuspid aortic valve (TAV) controls by age, gender, and presentation with TAD. Subjects with prior ascending aortic intervention were excluded. Measurements included aortic arch tortuosity, length, angle, width and height. Total aortic tortuosity was estimated in subjects with available abdominal images. RESULTS: 120 BAV and 234 TAV subjects were included. Our 2D measurements were highly correlated with 3D midline arch measurements and had high inter- and intra-observer reliability. Compared to TAV, BAV subjects had increased arch tortuosity (median 1.76 [Q1-Q3: 1.62-1.95] vs. 1.63 [1.53-1.78], P < 0.01), length (149 [136-160] vs. 135 [122-152] mm, P < 0.01), height (46 [41-53] vs. 39 [34-47] mm, P < 0.01), and vertex acuity (70 [61-77] vs. 75 [68-81] degree, P < 0.01). In a multivariable analysis, arch tortuosity remained independently associated with BAV after adjusting for aortic diameter and other clinical characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: We found that aortic arch tortuosity is significantly increased in BAV and may identify BAV patients who are at increased risk for TAD. Further studies to evaluate the association between tortuosity and clinical outcomes are in progress.

Grouped Amorphous Calcifications at Mammography: Frequently Atypical but Rarely Associated with Aggressive Malignancy.

Purpose To determine rate of malignancy at stereotactic biopsy of amorphous calcifications with different distributions using current imaging, clinical, and histopathologic criteria. Materials and Methods From January 2009 to September 2013, this retrospective study reviewed a large set of stereotactic biopsies to identify amorphous calcifications and their clinical, imaging, and histopathologic characteristics. Calcification distribution was correlated with malignancy rate after adjusting for known risk factors using logistic regression. Results Of 1903 sequential biopsies, 546 (28.7%) were for amorphous calcifications. After excluding atypical lesions not excised and patients with more than one biopsy in the same year, 497 lesions from 494 women (median age, 52 years; age range, 30-81 years) remained. Fifty-two (10.5%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.9, 13.5) lesions proved malignant, with 17 of 52 (42.7%) being invasive cancers (median, 0.3 cm; range, 0.1-1.3 cm) and all 17 of them being estrogen and progesterone receptor positive and node negative. Malignancy rates in a segmental (six of 21 [28.6%]), linear (eight of 32 [25.0%]), or multiple group same quadrant (nine of 36 [25.0%]) distribution were significantly higher than malignancy rate in a solitary group of amorphous calcifications (25 of 356 [7.0%]) (P = .004, P = .003, and P = .002, respectively). Of 356 grouped amorphous calcifications, 102 (28.7%) yielded atypical results prompting excision, with three of 102 (2.9%) upgraded to ductal carcinoma in situ at excision. In women younger than 50 years without a personal history of cancer, grouped amorphous calcifications showed four of 127 (3.1%) (95% CI: 0.9, 7.9) were malignant and 39 of 127 (30.7%) were atypical at final histopathology. Conclusion Biopsy of amorphous calcifications remains necessary, with an overall malignancy rate of 10.5%; only 17 of 497 (3.4%) biopsies showed invasive cancer, and all of these were estrogen and progesterone receptor positive. Grouped amorphous calcifications in women younger than 50 years without history of breast or ovarian cancer showed a low malignancy rate of 3.1% (four of 127).

Left atrial transverse diameter on computed tomography angiography can accurately diagnose left atrial enlargement in patients with atrial fibrillation.

PURPOSE: Left atrial (LA) enlargement is associated with increased risk for adverse cardiovascular events. We assessed the accuracy of LA transverse and antero-posterior (AP) diameters obtained from chest computed tomography (CT) angiography in patients with atrial fibrillation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nongated contrast-enhanced 64-slice multidetector CT angiography (slice thickness of 0.625 to 1.25 mm) was used to measure the volume and transverse and AP diameters of the LA in 222 subjects. The internal contours of the LA and LA appendage were outlined in 1 of every 5 axial images, and the LA area was multiplied by 5 times the slice thickness. Maximum transverse and AP diameters of the LA were measured, excluding the appendage. Receiver operating characteristic curves were fitted to assess the accuracy of the diameters. A Wald test was used to compare the area under the curves. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 60.0±10.6 years, and 71% were male. Median LA volume was 55.9±24.4 mL/m. LA enlargement was present in 83% of the patients. Transverse and AP LA diameters were accurate estimators of the LA enlargement. The transverse diameter demonstrated higher accuracy than the AP diameter, with area under the curves of 0.89 (0.84 to 0.94) and 0.81 (0.73 to 0.89), respectively (P<0.05). A transverse LA diameter of 7.3 cm had a sensitivity and specificity of 85% for detection of LA enlargement. At the same sensitivity level, an AP diameter of 4.3 cm had a specificity of 60.5%. CONCLUSIONS: Transverse LA diameter can accurately detect LA enlargement in patients with atrial fibrillation. This parameter can be used for detection of patients with possible LA enlargement on chest CT angiography.

Squatting and risk of colorectal cancer:a case-control study.

BACKGROUND The sitting position, rather than squatting, during defecation has been hypothesized to be a risk factor for colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS We conducted a case-control study to test this hypothesis.A total of 100 CRC cases from two hospitals in Iran and 100 control subjects, selected from the coronary care unit (CCU) of those same hospitals were selected for this study. We administered a detailed questionnaire to the study subjects asking about history of toilet use and other relevant confounders. RESULTS In logistic regression analysis, the crude and adjusted ORs (95% CIs) for using sitting toilets in any decade were 1.20 (0.89 - 1.61) and 1.07 (0.72 - 1.59), respectively. Also, the crude and adjusted ORs (95% CIs) for using 10 more years of sitting toilets were as 1.16 (0.92 - 1.47) and 1.02 (0.74 - 1.40), neither of which indicated a statistically significant increase in risk. CONCLUSION Our study did not support an appreciable role for using sitting toilets as risk factors for CRC.

Epidemiology of uninvestigated gastrointestinal symptoms in adolescents: a population-based study applying the Rome II questionnaire.

OBJECTIVES: : Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders in early life contribute to a lower quality of life and more persistent GI symptoms during the rest of life. Epidemiologic data on adolescence GI disorders are scarce. We aimed to perform a population-based study to assess the prevalence of GI symptoms in adolescents and their relation to sex, age, and socioeconomic status. MATERIALS AND METHODS: : A multistage random sample of Tehran middle and high school students (ages 14-19 years) was selected. A validated Persian version of the Rome II questionnaire was used to measure the frequency of different GI disorders as well as demographic socioeconomic variables. RESULTS: : A total of 1436 participants were enrolled in the study, 736 (51.3%) of whom were men. Mean (SD) age was 16.9 (1.8) years. The frequency of at least 1 GI symptom was 32.4%. The 4 most prevalent GI symptoms were bloating (16.9%), heartburn (4.9%), incontinence (4.3%), and irritable bowel syndrome (4.1%). Bloating, irritable bowel syndrome, and proctalgia fugax were significantly more common in girls (P < 0.05). Incontinence was significantly more prevalent in lower socioeconomic status levels (P = 0.01). In logistic regression, age was a risk factor for abdominal bloating and dysphagea and a protective factor for incontinence. CONCLUSIONS: : Our study indicates that GI symptoms are common among adolescents. Girls are more prone to these disorders. Special psychological and medical interventions are necessary for high-risk groups.

Comparison of colonic transit time between patients with constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome and functional constipation.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Functional constipation (FC) and constipation-predominant IBS (C-IBS) are two main subtypes of constipation. Using radio-opaque markers is an easy and cost effective method to measure colonic transit time (CTT). We designed this study to compare the CTT between these two groups of constipated patients. METHODS: Patients with chronic constipation of no organic etiology were classified as having FC or C-IBS according to the Rome II criteria. All patients ingested 10 radio opaque markers daily for six days. A plain abdominal X-ray was taken on the seventh day. To calculate the total and segmental colonic transit time in hours, number of markers in right and left colonic and rectosigmoid area were counted and multiplied by 2.4. The mean total and segmental colonic transit time were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: A total of 100 patients (50 FC and 50 C-IBS) were enrolled. The mean (SD) total CTT was not significantly different between FC patients (52.2 [35.5] h) and C-IBS patients (41.2 [31.6] h; p = 0.10). The mean rectosigmoid transit time was significantly slower in FC patients (19.9 [15.5] h) compared to C-IBS patients (11.9 [10.6] h; p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: Rectosigmoid transit time in FC patients is slower than in C-IBS patients.