Disappearing grouped breast calcifications: An ominous sign.

Spontaneous disappearing breast calcifications is a rarely-reported phenomenon and the relatively small number of studies that have been done mostly associated the resolution of benign-appearing breast calcifications with benign processes. We present a case of a postmenopausal woman who had spontaneously resolving grouped, coarse heterogenous calcifications in the setting a new soft tissue mass which was pathologically proven to be invasive ductal carcinoma. A handful of studies have shown the resolution of indeterminant calcifications to be associated with malignancy, and interestingly, all of these cases also demonstrated a new parenchymal abnormality which is akin to the present case.

The Value of a Second Opinion for Breast Cancer Patients Referred to a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-Designated Cancer Center with a Multidisciplinary Breast Tumor Board.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the changes in diagnosis after a second opinion for breast cancer patients from a multi-disciplinary tumor board (MTB) review at an National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer center.

Methods: A retrospective study analyzed patients with a breast cancer diagnosed at an outside institution who presented for a second opinion from August 2015 to March 2016 at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). Radiology, pathology, and genetic testing reports from outside institutions were compared with reports generated after an MTB review and subsequent workup at MUSC.

Changes in Breast Density Reporting Patterns of Radiologists After Publication of the 5th Edition BI-RADS Guidelines: A Single Institution Experience.

Objective: The objective of our study was to determine the impact of 5th edition BI-RADS breast density assessment guidelines on density reporting patterns in our clinical practice.

Materials And Methods: PenRad reporting system was used to collect mammographic breast density data reported by five radiologists: 16,907 density assignments using 5th edition BI-RADS guidelines were compared with 19,066 density assessments using 4th edition guidelines. Changes in the density assessment pattern were noted between the 4th and 5th edition guidelines, and agreement in density distribution was compared using the intraclass correlation coefficient.

Effects of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy on Benign Breast Lesions Compared to Cancers: Should an Additional Lesion on Magnetic Resonance Imaging Responding Similar to Cancer after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy be Viewed with Suspicion?

Purpose: Determining the effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) on benign breast lesions and to evaluate their response in comparison to breast cancers.

Methods: A retrospective analysis performed on breast cancer patients between 2008 and 2014 to identify patients who had a pre- and post-NAC magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and biopsy-proven benign lesions. Pre- and post-NAC size and intensity of enhancement of benign lesions and cancers were measured.

Effects of Changes in BI-RADS Density Assessment Guidelines (Fourth Versus Fifth Edition) on Breast Density Assessment: Intra- and Interreader Agreements and Density Distribution.

Objective: The objective of our study was to determine intra- and interreader agreements for density assessment using the fifth edition of the BI-RADS guidelines and to compare with those for density assessment using the fourth edition of the BI-RADS guidelines.

Materials And Methods: Five radiologists assessed breast density four times in 104 mammographic examinations: twice using the fourth edition of the BI-RADS guidelines and twice using the fifth edition. The intra- and interreader agreements for density assessment based on each guideline were determined and compared.

Assessing the Relationship of Mammographic Breast Density and Proliferative Breast Disease.

Increased breast density and a history of benign breast biopsy are both considered risk factors for developing breast cancer. Understanding the specifics of these risk factors and their relationship to each other can lead to a better understanding of a patient's propensity for breast cancer development and improved surveillance strategies. We included 245 women who underwent a benign breast biopsy without atypia between October 2011 and June 2013.

Comparative accuracy of preoperative tumor size assessment on mammography, sonography, and MRI: Is the accuracy affected by breast density or cancer subtype?

Purpose: To compare the accuracy of preoperative breast tumor size measurements obtained on three imaging modalities (mammography [MM], sonography [US], and MRI) with those obtained on final pathologic examination for different breast densities and various tumor types.

Methods: Records from patients who underwent breast cancer lumpectomy between 2008 and 2012 and in whom tumor was seen on all three imaging modalities were retrospectively reviewed for maximum tumor size measurements. Patients with positive tumor margins and those who had undergone neoadjuvant chemotherapy were excluded.

Acquired arteriovenous fistula of the breast following ultrasound guided biopsy of invasive ductal carcinoma.

Image guided large-core breast biopsies are commonly performed procedures with relatively rare complications. The majority of these complications are minor, though at times more significant vascular injuries can occur with these biopsies as demonstrated by this case. Patient developed a pulsatile vascular breast mass after an ultrasound guided breast biopsy of invasive ductal carcinoma.

Ovarian cystic lesions: a current approach to diagnosis and management.

The primary imaging modality for evaluation of ovarian cystic lesions is pelvic ultrasonography. Most ovarian cysts are benign and demonstrate typical sonographic features that support benignity. However, some ovarian cystic lesions have indeterminate imaging features, and the approach to management varies.

Late occurring ectopic pregnancy in a posthysterectomy patient.

The incidence of ectopic pregnancy after hysterectomy is extremely rare with only 56 cases reported in the medical literature. Due to its rare occurrence, this diagnosis may not be initially considered when such a patient presents with abdominopelvic pain. It is an important diagnosis to keep in mind since a delay in diagnosis may lead to death.

Role of breast ultrasound and mammography in evaluating patients presenting with focal breast pain in the absence of a palpable lump.

To determine if ultrasound and/or mammography is helpful in detecting breast cancers in patients presenting with focal breast pain. Patients who presented between February 2008 and April 2011 with focal breast pain without a lump were included in the study. The mammographic and US findings were retrospectively reviewed.

Assessing the role of ultrasound in predicting the biological behavior of breast cancer.

Objective: The purpose of this article is to correlate various ultrasound features of breast cancer with tumor grade, and with estrogen, progesterone, and ERRB2 (formerly HER2) receptor status as well as to assess the predictive value of these features.

Materials And Methods: The features of breast cancers found by using ultrasound between January 2010 and June 2011 were reviewed for tumor size, margins, and posterior acoustic features. The tumor margins were classified into spiculated, angular, indistinct, lobulated or microlobulated, and circumscribed.

Correlation of sonographic features of invasive ductal mammary carcinoma with age, tumor grade, and hormone-receptor status.

Purpose: To determine whether presenting sonographic features of invasive ductal carcinomas (IDC) are associated with patient age, tumor histologic grade, and hormonal receptor status.

Methods: Sonographic features of 101 consecutive cases of IDC seen at ultrasound were retrospectively assessed based on the BI-RADS criteria of posterior acoustic appearance, tumor margins, and echogenicity. Associations between sonographic features and tumor characteristics were statistically evaluated with attention to patient age.

Review of metaplastic carcinoma of the breast: imaging findings and pathologic features.

Metaplastic carcinoma (MPC), an uncommon but often aggressive breast cancer, can be challenging to differentiate from other types of breast cancer and even benign lesions based on the imaging appearance. It has a variable pathology classification system. These types of tumors are generally rapidly growing palpable masses.

Current role of ultrasound in chronic liver disease: surveillance, diagnosis and management of hepatic neoplasms.

Ultrasound (US) has been used to evaluate liver disease for many decades. Despite certain inherent limitations in evaluating chronic liver disease on routine gray-scale US, it is still widely used for the initial evaluation in patients suspected of liver disease as well as for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) screening in patients with known cirrhosis. Due to recent advances in digital technology and US imaging software, various new computer protocols have been incorporated in the new US equipment.

Ultrasound evaluation of gallbladder dyskinesia: comparison of scintigraphy and dynamic 3D and 4D ultrasound techniques.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of 3D and 4D ultrasound in correlation with hepatoiminodiacetic acid (HIDA) scanning for calculating gallbladder ejection fraction (EF).

Subjects And Methods: A prospective study was conducted with 40 adult patients with suspected gallbladder dyskinesia. Cholecystokinin-provoked (99m)Tc-HIDA scintigraphy was performed, and concurrent 3D and 4D ultrasound images of the gallbladder were obtained before cholecystokinin infusion and 20, 30, and 40 minutes after infusion.

Imaging of hepatocellular carcinoma: practical guide to differential diagnosis.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is most commonly seen in patients with cirrhosis. Criteria for diagnosis include arterial-phase enhancement, venous-phase washout, and a capsule on delayed sequences. Tiny HCC are best detected with magnetic resonance imaging using the new hepatocyte-specific gadolinium agents; otherwise, short-term follow up versus biopsy is considered.

Ultrasound for pelvic pain II: nongynecologic causes.

Acute pelvic pain in women is a common presenting complaint that can result from various conditions. Because these conditions can be of gynecologic or nongynecologic origin, they may pose a challenge to the diagnostic acumen of physicians, including radiologists. A thorough workup should include clinical history, physical examination, laboratory data, and appropriate imaging studies, all of which should be available to the radiologist for evaluation.

An overview of renal transplantation: current practice and use of ultrasound.

Imaging has played a major role in monitoring the well-being of the renal graft. Ultrasound, in particular, has been extremely helpful for the detection of postoperative complications related to the transplant kidney. From an imaging perspective, the complications of renal transplantation can be categorized into vascular complications, complications related to the collecting systems (urological complications), perinephric fluid collections, and parenchymal complications.

Can the smallest depth of ascitic fluid on sonograms predict the amount of drainable fluid?

Purpose: To investigate the correlation between the 'smallest fluid depth' (SFD) measured on sonography (US) at the 'paracentesis pocket' with the amount of fluid drained in patients referred for US-guided large-volume paracentesis.

Methods: US examinations performed to guide 60 paracenteses in 29 patients with large-volume ascites were reviewed and the SFD measured at the site of the paracentesis. The SFD was measured from the most superficial bowel loop to the abdominal wall.

Rare breast lesions: correlation of imaging and histologic features with WHO classification.

Mammographers occasionally are surprised by the diagnosis of a rare lesion at breast biopsy. The imaging features of some breast lesions are unfamiliar because they are rarely seen in routine mammographic practice and they are not well described or well documented in the radiologic literature. Moreover, there may be wide variation in the appearances of rare breast lesions at mammography and ultrasonography (US).

Imaging of abdominal lymphoma.

This article discusses the radiologic appearances of solid organ involvement with Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the abdominopelvic region. The most common radiologic patterns of involvement are illustrated. The imaging characteristics of lymphomatous involvement of abdominal organs overlap with several other disorders and the specific features pertaining to lymphoma are highlighted.

Characterization of sonographic and mammographic features of granular cell tumors of the breast and estimation of their incidence.

Objective: The purpose of this series was to review the spectrum of sonographic and mammographic features of granular cell tumors (GCTs) of the breast and to compare their frequency relative to breast carcinoma.

Methods: Ten cases of a breast GCT diagnosed during the last 13 years were analyzed for the imaging characteristics and clinical features. Sonographic images were reviewed for location, size, echogenicity, margins, height-width ratio, and sound transmission.