Project description:BackgroundMagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a multi-sequence imaging technique. Although MRI is the most sensitive method for detecting breast cancer, it is limited in evaluating the malignant possibility of non-mass enhanced (NME) breast lesions. It is also rarely reported whether MRI can further indicate the invasion of the lesions. In this article, we explore the differentiation of MRI characteristics between benign and malignant NME lesions and determine which features are associated with invasion.MethodsThe MRI findings of 118 NME lesions were evaluated retrospectively to explore the characteristics of the benign and malignant NME lesions in different MRI sequences including dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). The difference of MRI findings between benign and malignant NME lesions were determined by Pearson χ2 test or Fisher's exact test, and the diagnostic value of features for malignancy was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.ResultsThis study included 118 NME lesions (62 benign and 56 malignant) in 118 patients. We found a segmental distribution, clustered-ring enhancement, wash-out dynamic curve, and lower apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value (P=0.01, <0.001, 0.02, 0.001) were associated with malignancy. Wash-out dynamic curves, diffusion restriction on DWI, lower ADC values were more advantageous in distinguishing invasive NME cancer from benign lesions than ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) (P<0.001, <0.001, 0.027). Further analysis showed that there were statistical differences between invasive carcinoma and carcinoma in situ in terms of wash-out dynamic curves, diffusion restriction on DWI and lower ADC values (P=0.001, 0.014, 0.024).ConclusionsMRI is a valuable way to identify malignant NME lesions and could predict the invasion of the lesions. Compared with carcinoma in situ, some sequences have more advantages in distinguishing invasive carcinoma from benign lesions.
Project description:BACKGROUND:We aimed to analyse the morphokinetic features of breast fibrocystic changes (nonproliferative lesions, proliferative lesions without atypia and proliferative lesions with atypia) presenting as a non-mass enhancement (NME)in dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) examination. PATIENTS AND METHODS:Forty-six patients with histologically proven fibrocystic changes (FCCs) were retrospectively reviewed, according to Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) lexicon. Prior to DCE-MRI examination, a unilateral breast lesion suspicious of malignancy was detected clinically, on mammography or breast ultrasonography. RESULTS:The predominant features of FCCs presenting as NME in DCE-MRI examination were: unilateral regional or diffuse distribution (in 35 patients or 76.1%), heterogeneous or clumped internal pattern of enhancement (in 36 patients or 78.3%), plateau time-intensity curve (in 25 patients or 54.3%), moderate or fast wash-in (in 31 patients or 67.4%).Nonproliferative lesions were found in 11 patients (24%), proliferative lesions without atypia in 29 patients (63%) and lesions with atypia in six patients (13%), without statistically significant difference of morphokinetic features, except of the association of clustered microcysts with proliferative dysplasia without atypia. CONCLUSIONS:FCCs presenting as NME in DCE-MRI examination have several morphokinetic features suspicious of malignancy, therefore requiring biopsy (BI-RADS 4). Nonproliferative lesions, proliferative lesions without atypia and proliferative lesions with atypia predominantly share the same predefined DCE-MRI morphokinetic features.
Project description:IntroductionPleural Malignancy (PM) is often occult on subjective radiological assessment. We sought to define a novel, semi-objective Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) biomarker of PM, targeted to increased tumour microvessel density (MVD) and applicable to minimal pleural thickening.Materials and methods60 consecutive patients with suspected PM underwent contrast-enhanced 3-T MRI then pleural biopsy. In 58/60, parietal pleura signal intensity (SI) was measured in multiple regions of interest (ROI) at multiple time-points, generating ROI SI/time curves and Mean SI gradient (MSIG: SI increment/time). The diagnostic performance of Early Contrast Enhancement (ECE; which was defined as a SI peak in at least one ROI at or before 4.5 min) was compared with subjective MRI and Computed Tomography (CT) morphology results. MSIG was correlated against tumour MVD (based on Factor VIII immunostain) in 31 patients with Mesothelioma.Results71% (41/58) patients had PM. Pleural thickening was <10 mm in 49/58 (84%). ECE sensitivity was 83% (95% CI 61-94%), specificity 83% (95% CI 68-91%), positive predictive value 68% (95% CI 47-84%), negative predictive value 92% (78-97%). ECE performance was similar or superior to subjective CT and MRI. MSIG correlated with MVD (r = 0.4258, p = .02).DiscussionECE is a semi-objective, perfusion-based biomarker of PM, measurable in minimal pleural thickening. Further studies are warranted.
Project description:A 36-year-old woman, unresponsive to pneumonia antibiotherapy followed by antituberculosis treatment, was referred to our clinic. Thorax computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography CT showed cystic mass and mediastinal lymph node with suspicion of malignancy. Fine needle aspiration biopsy and mediastinoscopy showed no malignancy, so the patient underwent an exploratory thoracotomy. A frozen section of wedge-resected mass was reported as adenocarcinoma, leading to right lower lobectomy with mediastinal lymph node dissection. Besides cutting-edge diagnostic techniques, exploratory thoracotomy for cavitary lung lesions can still be necessary, as the last-line choice. The probability of malignancy must always be considered, despite a patient's age or symptoms.
Project description:BackgroundBackground parenchymal enhancement (BPE) is defined as the enhanced proportion of normal fibroglandular tissue on enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. BPE shows promise as a quantitative imaging biomarker (QIB). However, the lack of consensus among radiologists in their semi-quantitative grading of BPE limits its clinical utility.MethodsThe main objective of this study was to develop a BPE quantification model according to clinical expertise, with the BPE integral being used as a QIB to incorporate both the volume and intensity of the enhancement metrics. The model was applied to 2,786 cases to compare our quantitative results with radiologists' semi-quantitative BPE grading to evaluate the effectiveness of using the BPE integral as a QIB for analyzing BPE. Comparisons between multiple groups of nonnormally distributed BPE integrals were performed using the Kruskal-Wallis test.ResultsOur study found a considerable degree of concordance between our BPE quantitative integral and radiologists' semi-quantitative assessments. Specifically, our research results revealed significant variability in BPE integral attained through the BPE quantification framework among all semi-quantitative BPE grading groups labeled by experienced radiologists, including mild-moderate (P<0.001), mild-marked (P<0.001), and moderate-marked (P<0.001). Furthermore, there was an apparent correlation between BPE integral and BPE grades, with marked BPE displaying the highest BPE integral, followed by moderate BPE, with mild BPE exhibiting the lowest BPE integral value.ConclusionsThe study developed and implemented a BPE quantification framework, which incorporated both the volume and intensity of enhancement and which could serve as a QIB for BPE.
Project description:Genome wide DNA methylation profiling of normal and tumour prostate samples. The Illumina Infinium MethylationEPIC Human DNA methylation oligonucleotide beads was used to obtain DNA methylation profiles across approximately 850,000 CpGs. Comparative assessment was carried out.
Project description:The objective of this study was to evaluate the association betweenthe quantitative assessment of background parenchymal enhancement rate (BPER) and breast cancer. From 14,033 consecutive patients who underwent breast MRI in our center, we randomly selected 101 normal controls. Then, we selected 101 women with benign breast lesions and 101 women with breast cancer who were matched for age and menstruation status. We evaluated BPER at early (2 minutes), medium (4 minutes) and late (6 minutes) enhanced time phases of breast MRI for quantitative assessment. Odds ratios (ORs) for risk of breast cancer were calculated using the receiver operating curve. The BPER increased in a time-dependent manner after enhancement in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Premenopausal women had higher BPER than postmenopausal women at early, medium and late enhanced phases. In the normal population, the OR for probability of breast cancer for premenopausal women with high BPER was 4.1 (95% CI: 1.7-9.7) and 4.6 (95% CI: 1.7-12.0) for postmenopausal women. The OR of breast cancer morbidity in premenopausal women with high BPER was 2.6 (95% CI: 1.1-6.4) and 2.8 (95% CI: 1.2-6.1) for postmenopausal women. The BPER was found to be a predictive factor of breast cancer morbidity. Different time phases should be used to assess BPER in premenopausal and postmenopausal women.
Project description:The value of pharmacokinetic parameters derived from fast dynamic imaging during initial enhancement in characterizing breast lesions on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was evaluated. Sixty-eight malignant and 34 benign lesions were included. In the scanning protocol, high temporal resolution imaging was combined with high spatial resolution imaging. The high temporal resolution images were recorded every 4.1 s during initial enhancement (fast dynamic analysis). The high spatial resolution images were recorded at a temporal resolution of 86 s (slow dynamic analysis). In the fast dynamic evaluation pharmacokinetic parameters (K(trans), V(e) and k(ep)) were evaluated. In the slow dynamic analysis, each lesion was scored according to the BI-RADS classification. Two readers evaluated all data prospectively. ROC and multivariate analysis were performed. The slow dynamic analysis resulted in an AUC of 0.85 and 0.83, respectively. The fast dynamic analysis resulted in an AUC of 0.83 in both readers. The combination of both the slow and fast dynamic analyses resulted in a significant improvement of diagnostic performance with an AUC of 0.93 and 0.90 (P = 0.02). The increased diagnostic performance found when combining both methods demonstrates the additional value of our method in further improving the diagnostic performance of breast MRI.
Project description:Nuclear magnetic resonance is usually drastically limited by its intrinsically low sensitivity: Only a few spins contribute to the overall signal. To overcome this limitation, hyperpolarization methods were developed that increase signals several times beyond the normal/thermally polarized signals. The ideal case would be a universal approach that can signal enhance the complete sample of interest in solution to increase detection sensitivity. Here, we introduce a combination of para-hydrogen enhanced magnetic resonance with the phenomenon of the RASER: Large signals of para-hydrogen enhanced molecules interact with the magnetic resonance coil in a way that the signal is spontaneously converted into an in-phase signal. These molecules directly interact with other compounds via dipolar couplings and enhance their signal. We demonstrate that this is not only possible for solvent molecules but also for an amino acid.