Residual glandular tissue (RGT) in BRCA1/2 germline mutation carriers with unilateral and bilateral prophylactic mastectomies.

BACKGROUND: Prophylactic mastectomy (PME) is increasingly performed in women carrying deleterious BRCA1 and BRCA2 germline mutations. The oncologic risk resulting from residual fibroglandular tissue (RGT) is unknown. METHODS: All women who had received a mastectomy and at least one postoperative breast MRI, between 2006 and 2016 were extracted from the register of the Center for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Cologne (CHBOC). The index MRI was evaluated in terms of basic clinical data and the morphological criteria of RGT. The RGT volume was measured in diameter and was semi-automatically evaluated using software. RESULTS: We identified 169 women carrying BRCA1/2 mutations who underwent prophylactic and curative mastectomy: a total of 338 breasts. RGT was found in 128 of the 338 breasts (37.9%). 68 of the 128 breasts (53.1%) were related to bilateral PME, 37 (28.9%) to unilateral PME and 23 (18.0%) to curative mastectomy. RGT was predominantly unifocal and located in the retroareolar breast region. RGT was observed more often after bilateral PME (p < 0.0001). In this subgroup, the nipple-sparing mastectomy dominated (108 of 136, 79.4%), in contrast to 23 standard mastectomies (23 of 94, 24.5%) in the subgroup of curative mastectomy (23%). There was a trend towards higher amounts of RGT in surgical units with fewer mastectomies performed. During follow-up, two breast cancers were detected after bilateral and unilateral PME, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the indication for surgery and in particular the selected surgical procedure affect the surgical outcome with respect to RGT. Oncological safety should not be neglected, especially in the high-risk group of BRCA1/2 mutation carriers.

Magnetic Resonance-Guided High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (MR-HIFU): Overview of Emerging Applications (Part 2).

BACKGROUND: High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) allows noninvasive heating of deep-seated tissues. Guidance under magnetic resonance imaging (MR-HIFU) offers spatial targeting based on anatomical MR images as well as MR-based near-real-time temperature maps. Temperature feedback allows delivery of a well-defined thermal dose enabling new applications such as the ablation of malignant tissue. METHODS: Peer-reviewed publications on MR-HIFU were studied and are summarized in this review. Literature was restricted to applications in oncology. RESULTS: Several MR-HIFU-based applications for the treatment of malignant diseases are currently part of clinical trials or translational research. Recent trials regarding the treatment of prostate cancer with MR-HIFU have already shown this to be a safe and patient-friendly method. For the treatment of breast cancer and malignancies within abdominal organs, MR-HIFU has been applied so far only in proof of concept studies. CONCLUSION: MR-HIFU is currently being investigated for the ablative treatment of malignant tissue in a variety of oncological applications. For example, the transrectal as well as transurethral ablation of prostate cancer using MR-HIFU was shown to be a patient-friendly, safe alternative to other local treatment options with low side effects. KEY POINTS: · MR guidance offers high soft tissue contrast for treatment planning, near-real-time temperature monitoring, and post-interventional therapy evaluation.. · Special HIFU transducers and technological solutions are available for the treatment of e. g. prostate cancer, breast cancer or abdominal malignancies.. CITATION FORMAT: · Siedek F, Yeo SY, Heijman E et al. MR-Guided High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (MR-HIFU): Overview of Emerging Applications (Part 2). Fortschr Röntgenstr 2019; 191: 531 - 539.

Magnetic Resonance-Guided High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (MR-HIFU): Technical Background and Overview of Current Clinical Applications (Part 1).

BACKGROUND: Extracorporeal high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a promising method for the noninvasive thermal ablation of benign and malignant tissue. Current HIFU treatments are performed under ultrasound (US-HIFU) or magnetic resonance (MR-HIFU) image guidance offering integrated therapy planning, real-time control (spatial and temperature guidance) and evaluation. METHODS: This review is based on publications in peer-reviewed journals addressing thermal ablation using HIFU and includes our own clinical results as well. The technical background of HIFU is explained with an emphasis on MR-HIFU applications. A brief overview of the most commonly performed CE-approved clinical applications for MR-HIFU is given. RESULTS: Over the last decade, several HIFU-based applications have received clinical approval in various countries. In particular, MR-HIFU is now approved for the clinical treatment of uterine fibroids, palliation of bone pain, ablation of the prostate and treatment of essential tremor as a first neurological application. CONCLUSION: MR-HIFU is a patient-friendly noninvasive method for thermal ablation which has received clinical approval for several applications. Overall, clinical data demonstrate treatment efficacy, safety and cost efficiency. KEY POINTS: · HIFU is a promising technique for noninvasive thermal ablation of tissue.. · HIFU is typically performed under image guidance using either diagnostic ultrasound (US-HIFU) or MRI (MR-HIFU).. · The preferred image guidance modality depends on the application.. · MR guidance offers improved soft-tissue contrast for treatment planning, near real-time and noninvasive temperature monitoring and post-interventional therapy evaluation.. · MR-HIFU is CE-approved for treatment of uterine fibroids, alleviation of bone pain, prostate tissue ablation and treatment of essential tremor.. CITATION FORMAT: · Siedek F, Yeo S, Heijman E et al. Magnetic Resonance-Guided High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (MR-HIFU): Technical Background and Overview of Current Clinical Applications (Part 1). Fortschr Röntgenstr 2019; 191: 522 - 530.

Focal Breast Lesions in Clinical CT Examinations of the Chest: A Retrospective Analysis.

Purpose Based on radiological reports, the percentage of breast cancers visualized as incidental findings in routine CT examinations is estimated at ≤ 2 %. In view of the rising number of CT examinations and the high prevalence of breast cancer, it was the goal of the present study to verify the frequency and image morphology of false-negative senological CT findings. Materials and Methods All first contrast-enhanced CT examinations of the chest in adult female patients carried out in 2012 were retrospectively included. A senior radiologist systematically assessed the presence of breast lesions on all CT images using the BI-RADS system. All BI-RADS ≥ 3 notations were evaluated by a second senior radiologist. A consensus was obtained in case of differing BI-RADS assessments. Reference diagnoses were elaborated based on all available clinical, radiological and pathological data. The findings of the CT reports were classified according to the BI-RADS system and were compared with the retrospective consensus findings as well as with the reference diagnoses. Results The range of indications comprised a broad spectrum including staging and follow-up examinations of solid tumors/lymphoma (N = 701, 59.9 %) and vascular (190, 16.2 %), inflammatory (48, 4.1 %) and pulmonologic (22, 1.9 %) issues. BI-RADS 1/2 classifications were present in 92.5 % and BI-RADS 6 classifications were assessed in 1.7 % of the 1170 included examinations. 68 patients (5.8 %) had at least one lesion retrospectively classified as BI-RADS 3 - 5. The histological potential was known in 57 of these lesions as benign (46, 3.9 %) or malignant (11, 0.9 %). 13 BI-RADS 4/5 consensus assessments (1.1 %) were false-positive. 2 of the 10 lesions classified as being malignant based on the further clinical and radiological course were not mentioned in the written CT reports (0.2 %). Both false-negative CT reports were therapeutically and prognostically irrelevant. Conclusion The relative frequency of BI-RADS 3 - 5 findings was 5.8 %. It reflects the situation encountered in clinical imaging for primarily non-senologic questions and therefore differs from what would be expected in a dedicated screening program. The rates of known false-positive BI-RADS 4/5 findings in the retrospective evaluations (1.1 %) and of false-negative findings in the written CT reports (0.2 %) reflect the different diagnostic approaches of image-based senological screening and radiological examinations indicated in order to solve clinical problems not primarily concerning the breast region. Statements regarding the prevalence of clinically occult breast cancers can only be made with caution in the presented, highly selective group of patients due to the often incomplete visualization of breast tissue and the retrospective approach. Key points · Intramammary mass and non-mass lesions needing clarification may be present in up to 5.8 % of all contrast enhanced CT-examinations of the female chest.. · Irregular forms, unscharp/spiculated margins, inhomogeneous matrices and a pronounced contrast medium enhancement point towards a malignant genesis of an intramammary mass or non-mass lesion.. · The results of the study highlight the importance of paying systematical and targeted attention on senological additional findings in CT-examinations of the chest also in other clinical settings than that of the included patients in a clinic with oncological main focus.. Zitierweise · Krug KB, Houbois C, Grinstein O et al. Focal Breast Lesions in Clinical CT Examinations of the Chest: A Retrospective Analysis. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2017; 189: 977 - 988.

Comparison of the Detection Rate of Simulated Microcalcifications in Full-Field Digital Mammography, Digital Breast Tomosynthesis, and Synthetically Reconstructed 2-Dimensional Images Performed With 2 Different Digital X-ray Mammography Systems.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the microcalcification detectability in an anthropomorphic phantom model regarding number, size, and shape in full-field digital mammography (FFDM), synthetically reconstructed 2-dimensional (Synthetic-2D) images, and digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) performed with 2 different x-ray mammography systems. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Simulated microcalcifications of different numbers (0 to >39), sizes (diameter, 100-800 µm), and shapes (round vs heterogeneous) were scattered by random distribution on 50 film phantoms each divided in 4 quadrants. The FFDM and DBT x-rays were taken from each of these 50 films with both x-ray mammography systems (SenoClaire; GE Healthcare, Selenia Dimensions, Hologic) using an anthropomorphic scattering body and automatic exposure control. The resulting exposure factors were similar to a clinical setting. The synthetically reconstructed 2D images were generated automatically on both systems. All FFDM, Synthetic-2D, and DBT images were interpreted in randomized order and independently of each other by 6 radiologists using a structured questionnaire. RESULTS: The number categories of simulated microcalcifications were correctly evaluated in 55.3% of instances (quadrant by reader) in FFDM, 50.9% in the Synthetic-2D views, and 59.5% in DBT, summarized for 200 quadrants per reader for each Device A and B, respectively. Full-field digital mammography was superior to Synthetic-2D (mean difference, 4%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2%-7%; P < 0.001), and DBT was superior to both FFDM (mean difference, 4%; 95% CI, 2%-7%; P = 0.002) and Synthetic-2D (mean difference, 9%; 95% CI, 6%-11%; P < 0.001). This trend was consistent in all subgroup analyses. The number of the smallest microcalcifications (100-399 µm) was correctly evaluated in 25.2% of the FFDM, in 14.2% for Synthetic-2D, and in 28.3% of the DBT images. Underestimations of the number of simulated microcalcifications were more common than overestimations. Regarding the size categories of simulated microcalcifications, the rates of correct assessments were in 45.4% of instances in FFDM, 39.9% in the Synthetic-2D views, and 43.6% in DBT, summarized for 200 quadrants per reader and both imaging devices. CONCLUSIONS: In the presented in vitro environment using an anthropomorphic phantom model, standard full-field digital x-ray mammography was superior to synthetically reconstructed 2-dimensional images in the detection of simulated microcalcifications. In view of these results, it is questionable whether Synthetic-2D images can replace FFDM in clinical examinations at the present time. Further investigations are needed to assess the clinical impact of the in vitro results.

Vacuum-assisted breast biopsies (VAB) carried out on an open 1.0T MR imager: Influence of patient and target characteristics on the procedural and clinical results.

PURPOSE: The study was conducted in order to assess the clinical impact of MRI-guided vacuum-assisted breast biopsies carried out using an open 1.0T open MRI-system. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The clinical, imaging, interventional and histological data of all 132 patients with a first MRI-guided vacuum-assisted breast biopsy carried out between 07/2005 and 03/2012at the Radiological Department were extracted from the clinical files. The clinical outcome of patients with benign histological findings was assessed based on the clinical files and queries of the local gynecologists in charge. In the 103 interventional image data sets available target localization and target size were evaluated by two board-certified senior radiologists. Clinical data, lesion characteristics and interventional results were evaluated statistically using subgroup analyses. RESULTS: 131 of 132 MRI-guided breast biopsies (99.2%) were carried out successfully. The median interventional duration was 30min (25%-percentile 25min, 75%-percentile 35min, maximum 75min). Minor complications occurred in 12 interventions of the 131 (9.2%). The histological work-up of the biopsy specimen showed benign results in 98 of 131 interventions (74.8%), lesions with uncertain biological potential in 5 biopsies (3.8%) and malignant findings in 28 biopsies (21.4%). There were 2 false negative histological findings. Neither the patient age nor the medical history nor the anticipated risk of developing breast cancer had an impact on the success rates and the complication rates. In the 103 interventions with available image data sets the maximum target lesion diameters were 1-5mm in 16 lesions (15.5%), 6-10mm in 41 lesions (39.8%) and 11-15mm in 29 lesions (28.2%). There was a positive correlation between the maximum diameters and the rate of malignancy of the target lesions (p=0.020) as well as a trend towards longer interventional procedure durations in smaller target lesions (p=0.183). CONCLUSION: MRI-guided vacuum-assisted breast biopsy for suspicious breast lesions is a clinically safe and feasible method even in small target lesions when using an open high-field MRI-system.