• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.224-231
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• 2013

Purpose : To evaluate the potential effects of background parenchymal enhancement of MR imaging in diagnosed breast cancer patients on the rate of additional biopsy and resultant cancer yield. Materials and Methods: 322 patients who were diagnosed with breast cancer and had undergone breast MR imaging were included in this study. Two radiologists reviewed the MRI for degree of background parenchymal enhancement and additional suspicious lesions described as BI-RADS category 4 or 5 on radiologic reports. Biopsy was done for these lesions, pathology reports were reviewed to calculate the cancer yield. Results: Background parenchymal enhancement of MR imaging in a total of 322 patients were classified as minimal degree 47.5%, mild degree 28.9%, moderate degree 12.4% and marked degree 11.2%. Among these 332 patients, MR imaging of 70 patients showed additional suspicious malignant lesions described as BI-RADS category 4 or 5, and consequently, 66 patients underwent biopsy. Biopsy rates in those with minimal or mild background parenchymal enhancement and those with moderate and marked background parenchymal enhancement were 19.9% and 22.3% (p-value 0.77) respectively. Cancer yields in those with minimal or mild background parenchymal enhancement and those with moderate and marked background parenchymal enhancement were 6.5% and 5.2% (p value 0.88) respectively. Both these results did not show stastically significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion: The degree of background parenchymal enhancement in MR imaging of breast cancer patients did not significantly impact additional biopsy rates or cancer yields.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.18
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• pp.8619-8623
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• 2016

Background: Breast cancer is a common disorder in women, constituting one of the main causes of death all over the world. The purpose of this study was to determine the diagnostic value of the breast tissue diseases by the help of thermography. Materials and Methods: In this paper, we applied non-contact infrared camera, INFREC R500 for evaluating the capabilities of thermography. The study was conducted on 60 patients suspected of breast disease, who were referred to Imam Khomeini Imaging Center. Information obtained from the questionnaires and clinical examinations along with the obtained diagnostic results from ultrasound images, biopsies and thermography, were analyzed. The results indicated that the use of thermography as well as the asymmetry technique is useful in identifying hypoechoic as well as cystic masses. It should be noted that the patient should not suffer from breast discharge. Results: The accuracy of asymmetry technique identification is respectively 91/89% and 92/30%. Also the accuracy of the exact location of identification is on the 61/53% and 75%. The approach also proved effective in identifying heterogeneous lesions, fibroadenomas, and intraductal masses, but not ISO-echoes and calcified masses. Conclusions: According to the results of the investigation, thermography may be useful in the initial screening and supplementation of diagnostic procedures due to its safety (its non-radiation properties), low cost and the good recognition of breast tissue disease.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.1036-1044
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• 2020

Objective: To investigate the clinical feasibility of synthetic diffusion-weighted imaging (sDWI) at different b-values in patients with breast cancer by assessing the diagnostic image quality and the quantitative measurements compared with conventional diffusion-weighted imaging (cDWI). Materials and Methods: Fifty patients with breast cancer were assessed using cDWI at b-values of 800 and 1500 s/mm² (cDWI₈₀₀ and cDWI₁₅₀₀) and sDWI at b-values of 1000 and 1500 s/mm² (sDWI₁₀₀₀ and sDWI₁₅₀₀). Qualitative analysis (normal glandular tissue suppression, overall image quality, and lesion conspicuity) was performed using a 4-point Likert-scale for all DWI sets and the cancer detection rate (CDR) was calculated. We also evaluated cancer-to-parenchyma contrast ratios for each DWI set in 45 patients with the lesion identified on any of the DWI sets. Statistical comparisons were performed using Friedman test, one-way analysis of variance, and Cochran's Q test. Results: All parameters of qualitative analysis, cancer-to-parenchyma contrast ratios, and CDR increased with increasing b-values, regardless of the type of imaging (synthetic or conventional) (p < 0.001). Additionally, sDWI₁₅₀₀ provided better lesion conspicuity than cDWI₁₅₀₀ (3.52 ± 0.92 vs. 3.39 ± 0.90, p < 0.05). Although cDWI₁₅₀₀ showed better normal glandular tissue suppression and overall image quality than sDWI₁₅₀₀ (3.66 ± 0.78 and 3.73 ± 0.62 vs. 3.32 ± 0.90 and 3.35 ± 0.81, respectively; p < 0.05), there was no significant difference in their CDR (90.0%). Cancer-to-parenchyma contrast ratios were greater in sDWI₁₅₀₀ than in cDWI₁₅₀₀ (0.63 ± 0.17 vs. 0.55 ± 0.18, p < 0.001). Conclusion: sDWI₁₅₀₀ can be feasible for evaluating breast cancers in clinical practice. It provides higher tumor conspicuity, better cancer-to-parenchyma contrast ratio, and comparable CDR when compared with cDWI₁₅₀₀.

• Journal of electromagnetic engineering and science
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.199-205
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• 2010

This paper presents a tumor detection system for breast cancer that utilizes two-dimensional (2D) image reconstruction with microwave tomographic imaging. The breast cancer detection system under development consists of 16 transmit/receive antennas, and the microwave tomography system operates at 900 MHz. To solve a 2D inverse scattering problem, the method of moments (MoM) is employed for forward problem solving, and the simplex method employed as an optimization algorithm. The results of the reconstructed image show that the method accurately shows the position of a breast tumor.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.63-68
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• 2013

Background: Tumor angiogenesis correlates with recurrence and appears to be a prognostic factor for both breast and prostate cancers. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the correlation of microvessel density (MVD), a measure of angiogenesis, with nuclear pleomorphism, mitotic count, and vascular invasion in breast and prostate cancers at preclinical and clinical levels. Methods: Samples from xenograft tumors of luminal B breast cancer and prostate adenocarcinoma, established by BT-474 and PC-3 cell lines, respectively, and commensurate human paraffin-embedded blocks were obtained. To determine MVD, specimens were immunostained for CD-34. Nuclear pleomorphism, mitotic count, and vascular invasion were determined using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained slides. Results: MVD showed significant correlations with nuclear pleomorphism (r=0.68, P=0.03) and vascular invasion (r=0.77, P=0.009) in breast cancer. In prostate cancer, MVD was significantly correlated with nuclear pleomorphism (r=0.75, P=0.013) and mitotic count (r=0.75, P=0.012). In the breast cancer xenograft model, a significant correlation was observed between MVD and vascular invasion (r=0.87, P=0.011). In the prostate cancer xenograft model, MVD was significantly correlated with all three parameters (nuclear pleomorphism, r=0.95, P=0.001; mitotic count, r=0.91, P=0.001; and vascular invasion, r=0.79, P=0.017; respectively). Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that MVD is correlated with nuclear pleomorphism, mitotic count, and vascular invasion at both preclinical and clinical levels. This study therefore supports the predictive value of MVD in breast and prostate cancers.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.3037-3040
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• 2013

Introduction: Mammography is the most basic modality in breast cancer imaging. However, the overlap of breast tissue depicted on conventional two-dimensional mammography (2DMMG) may create significant obstacles to detecting abnormalities, especially in dense or heterogeneously dense breasts. In three-dimensional digital breast tomosynthesis (3DBT), tomographic images of the breast are reconstructed from multiple projections acquired at different angles. It has reported that this technology allows the generation of 3D data, therefore overcoming the limitations of conventional 2DMMG for Western women. We assessed the detectability of lesions by conventional 2DMMG and 3DBT in diagnosis of breast cancer for Japanese women. Methods: The subjects were 195 breasts of 99 patients (median age of 48 years, range 34~82 years) that had been pathologically diagnosed with breast cancer from December 20, 2010 through March 31, 2011. Both conventional 2DMMG and 3DBT imaging were performed for all patients. Detectability of lesions was assessed based on differences in category class. Results: Of the affected breasts, 77 (75.5%) had lesions assigned to the same categories by 2DMMG and 3DBT. For 24 (23.5%) lesions, the category increased in 3DBT indicating improvement in diagnostic performance compared to 2DMMG. 3DBT improved diagnostic sensitivity for patients with mass, focal asymmetric density (FAD), and architectural distortion. However, 3DBT was not statistically superior in diagnosis of the presence or absence of calcification. Conclusions: In this study, 3DBT was superior in diagnosing lesions in form of mass, FAD, and/or architectural distortion. 3DBT is a novel technique that may provide a breakthrough in solving the difficulties of diagnosis caused by parenchyma overlap for Japanese women.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.22
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• pp.9759-9761
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• 2014

Purpose: To compare tumor size by mammography and sonography and align with pathological results in primary breast cancer cases. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 95 primary breast cancer patients who underwent mammography and sonography from January 2011 to June 2012. The largest tumor diameter was chosen as sizing reference for each imaging modality. The measurements of mammography and sonography were considered concordant if they were within the measurement of pathological results ${\pm}0.5cm$. Pearson's correlation coefficient was calculated for imaging results. Results: The range of the maximum diameter was 0.6cm-10.5cm and mean value was $3.81{\pm}2.04cm$ by pathological results, 0.7cm-12.4 cm and $3.99{\pm}2.19cm$ by mammography, and 0.9cm-11.0cm and $3.63{\pm}2.01cm$ by sonography, respectively. Sonography (R: 0.754), underestimated tumor size, but had a better correlation with pathological tumor size compared to mammography (R: 0.676), which overestimated tumor size. Conclusions: Sonography is superior to mammography in assessment of primary breast cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.1057-1062
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• 2015

Background: Since the survival rate of breast cancer patients has improved, harmful effects of new treatment modalities on fertility of the young breast cancer patients has become a focus of attention. This study aimed to systematically review and critically appraise all available guidelines for fertility preservation in young breast cancer patients. Materials and Methods: Major citation databases were searched for treatment guidelines. Experts from relevant disciplines appraised the available guidelines. The AGREE II Instrument that includes 23 criteria in seven domains (scope and purpose of the guidelines, stakeholder involvement, rigor of development, clarity, applicability, editorial independence, and overall quality) was used to apprise and score the guidelines. Results: The search strategy retrieved 2,606 citations; 72 were considered for full-text screening and seven guidelines were included in the study. There was variability in the scores assigned to different domains among the guidelines. ASCO (2013), with an overall score of 68.0%, had the highest score, and St Gallen, with an overall score of 24.7%, had the lowest scores among the guidelines. Conclusions: With the promising survival rate among breast cancer patients, more attention should be given to include specific fertility preservation recommendations for young breast cancer patients.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.163-168
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• 2006

A 60-year-old female, who complained of delayed healing and swelling after extraction of left lower second molar during chemotherapy, visited our department. She had a history of a resection surgery of breast cancer and postoperative radiotherapy. The conventional radiographs showed diffuse permeative bone destruction in posterior mandibular body, which gave the first radiologic impression of osteonecrosis associated with radiotherapy or chemotherapy. And bone metastasis from the breast cancer was also considered in the differential diagnosis. On the enhanced computed tomography (ECT) the posterior mandibular body was occupied by a large expansile lesion showing central low attenuation with peripheral rim enhancement. Magnetic resonance images revealed that the low attenuated area on ECT did not show as high signal intensity as water on T2 weighted image and indicated solid component of a tumor. The final diagnosis was central squamous cell carcinoma. We present the diagnostic imaging features of the patient with special emphasis on the differential diagnosis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.83 no.1
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• pp.239-245
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• 2022

Contralateral axillary lymph node metastasis is a rare entity in breast cancer and is currently classified as a distant metastasis; however, recent studies have proposed aggressive curative treatment since this entity may manifest as a locoregional disease. Herein, we report a rare case of contralateral axillary lymph node metastasis that presented with imaging findings 22 months after the initial breast cancer diagnosis in a 67-year-old female. The patient underwent lymph node dissection of the axilla with adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. A follow-up examination 6 months after surgery showed no evidence of tumor recurrence or metastasis.