[Mammaglobin in peripheral blood and tumor in breast cancer patients]. / Mammaglobin v perifericheskoi krovi i opukholi pri rake molochnoi zhelezy.

Currently, no molecular biological markers do exist for early diagnosis of breast cancer. One of the possible candidates for the marker of early breast cancer is mammaglobin (MGB1) or SCGB2A2 (secretoglobin, family 2A, member 2), characterized by the maximal expression level in early breast cancer. Using the RT-PCR method MGB1 mRNA expression was examined in 57 tumor tissue samples and 57 samples of morphologically non-malignant tissue (MNT) of breast cancer (BC) patients. Specificity and sensitivity of the MGB1 mRNA assay in peripheral blood of BC patients was evaluated by nested PCR. 169 blood samples (from 95 BC patients, 22 from patients with benign breast tumors, 28 from patients with tumors of other localizations, and 24 samples from healthy donors) have been analyzed. MGB1 expression was significantly higher in BC tissue samples compared to MNT (p=0.0019). The maximal expression level was in the samples T1 (p=0.013), stage I BC (p=0.037), GI (p=0.0019). The MGB1 expression positively correlated with expression of estrogen (p = 0,034) and progesterone (p=0.0004) receptors. Sensitivity and specificity of the MGB1 mRNA assay in peripheral blood were 60.6% and 92.3%, respectively. Expression of MGB1 was higher in BC than MNT and it decreased during BC progression. The sensitivity and specificity of the MGB1 mRNA assay may be used as an additional diagnostic method.

[The status of an X-ray mammography equipment park in the Russian Federation in 2011­2012].

Breast cancer is the first most common cancer among women. Its increasingly threatening trends force to search for ways to accelerate the introduction of current technologies for the early diagnosis and prevention of breast malignancies. The paper gives data on the quantity and distribution of diagnostic and minimally invasive mammography equipment by the regions of the Russian Federation, which may lead to the conclusion about the regions' needs for equipment, trends, and possible prospects in the development of digital radiology in mammology.

[Experience with virtual sonography of the breast].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the capabilities of and the first experience with an ACUSON S2000 automated breast volume scanner (ABVS) (Siemens, Germany) to detect abnormal breast lumps. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Examinations were made in 97 patients who underwent radiological studies encompassing digital mammography, B-mode ultrasonography of the breast, and its pathomorphological examination. All the cases were classified according to the BI-RADS system. Abnormal breast lumps (BI-RADS 1) were not found in 27 cases; clearly defined benign masses (BI-RADS 2) were detected in 18, and pathomorphologically verified breast cancer (BC) (BI-RADS 5) in 29 cases. All the patients also underwent breast ultrasonography using an ACUSON S2000 system (Siemens, Germany). The results of ABVS examination were compared with those of standard comprehensive breast radiologic examination. Having no preliminary additional information on each patient, an independent expert--a radiologic diagnostician appraised all ultrasound scanning data at a special review station. RESULTS: The sensitivity of the automated scanning assay in detecting breast abnormalities was 100%; its specificity and diagnostic accuracy were 40 and 88%, respectively. The independent expert established the diagnosis of BC in 26 (90%) of the 29 cases. According to the results of automated breast scanning, pre-examination using a set of radiation methods was recommended in 66 (66%) cases. The hyperdiagnosis was 24%. CONCLUSION: Taking into consideration the fact that none of the BC case was overlooked, the first experience with ABVS showed encouraging results and the need for further clinical tests of the automated breast scanning system.

[Problems of X-ray mammology manpower training and management].

The paper considers the issues of manpower training in X-ray mammology. It mentions staff shortage and no special training, which reduces the efficient activities of X-ray mammographic rooms, as well as shortage of training facilities and no unified educational programs within interdisciplinary integration, inadequate technical equipment in the training facilities, the lack of an accounting system for training higher- and mid-level health workers, as well as engineers. Emphasis is placed on that the educational programs must comply with the organizational forms of testing the specialists to be employed. The introduction of a continuous education system should be accelerated to rule out the decay period of specialists' competence.

[Diagnosis of rare forms of breast desmoid tumor].

Desmoid is a rare tumor that is intermediate between benign and malignant neoplasms. Clinical, laboratory, and instrumental evidence shows the signs characteristic for both neoplastic and benign processes. The purpose of our study is to present two breast desmoid cases observed in our clinic and to demonstrate all stages of this diagnosis, by using specific examples.

Cytokeratin 19 mRNA concentration in lymph nodes as a diagnostic marker of metastases.

Comparison of the sensitivity of cytological and molecular genetic methods (19 specimens of lymph nodes from 8 patients with breast cancer and suspected metastases obtained by transcutaneous fine-needle aspiration biopsy under ultrasound guidance) showed that molecular genetic and cytological studies produced true results in 95 and 84% specimens, respectively. True-positive and true-negative results were obtained in 8 and 7 patients, respectively. Expression of cytokeratin 19 was detected in 3 specimens with negative cytological results and confirmed metastases in lymph nodes. Our results indicate that molecular genetic diagnostic study for lymph node metastases should be used in small amounts of biopsy specimens, presence of marginal metastases in lymph nodes, and negative results of repeated cytological examination.

[A new type of breast image upon dual-energy x-ray exposure].

The new possibilities of using scattered x-ray radiation in mammology are presented by the example of obtaining the new type of a highly informative breast image, by identifying the distribution of an effective atomic number by dual-energy exposure.

[Operation of mammographic room equipped with CR system for digital mammography].

The CR system for digital mammography, its operating procedures, and the throughput of a mammographic room equipped with the CR system are discussed. Recommendations for optimization of the mammographic room operation are given. Advantages of the CR system for digital mammography over conventional roentgenographic systems are described.