Evaluation of the intramammary distribution of breast lesions detected by MRI but not conventional second-look B-mode ultrasound using an MRI/ultrasound fusion technique.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the intramammary distribution of MRI-detected mass and focus lesions that were difficult to identify with conventional B-mode ultrasound (US) alone. Consecutive patients with lesions detected with MRI but not second-look conventional B-mode US were enrolled between May 2015 and June 2023. Following an additional supine MRI examination, we performed third-look US using real-time virtual sonography (RVS), an MRI/US image fusion technique.

Clinicopathological Evaluation of Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma.

Background And Aims: Clinicians sometimes encounter papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PMC) that is less than 10 mm, associated with lymph node metastasis. In this study, we assessed PMC clinicopathologically to clarify risk factors for poor prognosis.

Patients And Methods: Fifty-one patients who underwent thyroid surgery at Aichi Medical University from September 2009 to October 2016 were included.

Comprehensive genomic evaluation of advanced and recurrent breast cancer patients for tailored precision treatments.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate genetic alterations within breast cancer in the setting of recurrent or de novo stage IV disease.

Patients And Methods: This study included 22 patients with recurrent breast cancer (n = 19) and inoperable de novo stage IV breast cancer (n = 3). For next generation sequencing, FoundationOneCDx (F1CDx) (Foundation Medicine Inc.

Gender difference of geographic distribution of physicians in Japan: three-point analysis of 1994, 2004 and 2014.

Background: Japan's medical education system produces 9,000 graduates annually. Despite the government's implementation of several strategies, including increasing the number of doctors trained, the country still struggles with a shortage of physicians in rural areas. This study examined this issue, focusing on gender and considering years of physician experience, demographic and geographic factors.

Invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast detected with real-time virtual sonography: a case report.

Background: Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) sometimes presents with unique clinical, pathologic, and radiographic features. In this case report, we describe a patient with ILC, whose initial presentation consisted with symptoms secondary to bone-marrow dissemination. In addition, the breast primary was revealed only by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) followed by real-time virtual sonography (RVS).

Effect of eribulin on epithelial-mesenchymal transition plasticity in metastatic breast cancer: An exploratory, prospective study.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a pivotal role in cancer metastasis and treatment resistance, which worsens prognosis. In phase III trials, eribulin improved overall survival in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients. In preclinical studies, eribulin suppressed EMT.

Clinical performance of digital breast tomosynthesis-guided vacuum-assisted biopsy: a single-institution experience in Japan.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical performance of Digital Breast Tomosynthesis guided vacuum-assisted biopsy (DBT-VAB) for microcalcifications in the breast.

Methods: Retrospective review of 131 mammography-guided VABs at our institution were performed. All of the targets were calcification lesion suspicious for cancer.

Case report: surgical management of symptomatic pretracheal thyroid gland in a patient with dual ectopic thyroid.

Background: Dual ectopic thyroid, a very rare condition, is defined as the simultaneous presence of ectopic thyroid tissue in two abnormal locations. Here, we report the surgical management of a patient with dual ectopic thyroid.

Case Presentation: The patient was a 12-year-old boy with right para-midline swelling for 2 months.

Airway obstruction requiring tracheal intubation after fine-needle aspiration of the thyroid gland: a case report.

Background: There have been no reports of tracheal intubation for airway obstruction after acute thyroid swelling following fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of the thyroid gland.

Case Presentation: A 58-year-old woman with a 22 mm × 13 mm right hypervascular thyroid nodule underwent FNA once with a 22G needle under ultrasonographic guidance. Shortly after the aspiration, ultrasound revealed hypoechoic swelling with a crack-like pattern.

Evaluation of an MRI/US fusion technique for the detection of non-mass enhancement of breast lesions detected by MRI yet occult on conventional B-mode second-look US.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to verify the utility of second-look ultrasound (US) using real-time virtual sonography (RVS), a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)/US fusion technique, in identifying MRI-detected breast lesions with non-mass enhancement (NME).

Methods: Consecutive patients who had one or more NME lesions detected by MRI yet occult on the subsequent second-look US in conventional B (cB)-mode imaging were enrolled in the study between June 2015 and April 2020. Supine MRI of the lesions was performed and, using its data, second-look US using RVS was performed.

Observational management of papillary microcarcinoma appearing in the remnant thyroid after hemithyroidectomy.

Active surveillance for papillary thyroid microcarcinomas (PTMCs) initiated in Japan is becoming adopted worldwide as a management option. However, it remains unclear how to manage newly appearing PTMCs in the remnant thyroid after hemithyroidectomy. We investigated the outcomes of similar observational management (OM) for PTMCs appearing in the remnant thyroid after hemithyroidectomy for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and benign thyroid nodules.

Evaluation of the diagnostic utility of the aminotransferase/lactate dehydrogenase ratio for the suspension of tissue specimens during thyroid surgery for the identification of parathyroid tissue.

Identification of the parathyroid glands during surgery is crucial for preventing postoperative hypoparathyroidism. Kikumori et al. reported that the aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) ratio for the saline suspension of a suspicious tissue can differentiate parathyroid tissue from other tissues.

Mechanism of turnover or persistence of radiation-induced myofibroblast in vitro.

We recently made an important discovery that radiation induces myofibroblasts, which play a role in radiation-related carcinogenesis via tumor microenvironment formation. Here, we investigated the threshold dose and the mechanisms of myofibroblast induction to assess adverse radiation effects on normal cells. Single-dose of healthy human fibroblasts promotes myofibroblast induction at high doses (≥ 5 Gy).

Pre-Operative Planning Using Real-Time Virtual Sonography, an MRI/Ultrasound Image Fusion Technique, for Breast-Conserving Surgery in Patients with Non-Mass Enhancement on Breast MRI: A Preliminary Study.

The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the effect of pre-operative planning using real-time virtual sonography (RVS), a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)/ultrasound (US) image fusion technique on breast-conserving surgery (BCS) in patients with non-mass enhancement (NME) on breast MRI. Between 2011 and 2015, we enrolled 12 consecutive patients who had lesions with NME that exceeded the US hypo-echoic area, in which it was particularly difficult to evaluate the tumor margin. During pre-operative planning before breast-conserving surgery, RVS was used to delineate the enhancing area on the breast surface after additional supine breast MRI was performed.

Alterations in three biomarkers (estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor and human epidermal growth factor 2) and the Ki67 index between primary and metastatic breast cancer lesions.

In recurrent breast cancer, the tumor phenotype, as assessed by estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) status, occasionally changes. This change, in addition to the Ki67 index were evaluated at sites of recurrence and the correlation between changes in tumor phenotype and survival were assessed in breast cancer patients. Comparisons in pathological parameters between primary and metastatic lesions were drawn between ER, PR, HER2, and the Ki67 index in 70 patients with recurrent breast cancer.

Second-look US Using Real-time Virtual Sonography, a Coordinated Breast US and MRI System with Electromagnetic Tracking Technology: A Pilot Study.

Our aim was to retrospectively evaluate the utility of second-look ultrasound (US) using real-time virtual sonography (RVS) for detection of conventional B-mode (cB-mode) occult magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-detected breast lesions. Between July 2011 and May 2015, 53 consecutive patients who underwent second-look US to identify lesions detected by prone MRI were enrolled in this study. Second-look US using RVS was performed for cB-mode occult MRI-detected breast lesions after an additional supine MRI.

Development and Clinical Evaluation of New Topical Anesthetic Formulations for Dental Care.

To provide safe dental care, it is important to minimize the pain associated with the initial injection of the local anesthetic. For this purpose, a topical anesthetic is preliminarily applied to the area where a needle will be inserted in a clinical setting. In this study, we prepared new topical anesthetic formulations with favorable intra-oral retentivity and an excellent anesthetic effect, and clinically evaluated their efficacy.

Targeted sonography using an image fusion technique for evaluation of incidentally detected breast lesions on chest CT: a pilot study.

Background: With increasing use of computed tomography (CT), incidentally detected breast lesions are being encountered more frequently. The aim of our study was to verify the utility of targeted sonography using an image fusion technique, real-time virtual sonography (RVS) that coordinates real-time sonography images with previously obtained CT images using a magnetic position tracking system, for evaluation of incidentally detected breast lesions on chest CT.

Methods: Eleven lesions in 11 women with no history of breast cancer who were referred to our unit for assessment of breast lesions incidentally detected on CT were enrolled in this study.

Clinical significance of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) with respect to optimal cut-off value and tumor markers in advanced/metastatic breast cancer.

Background: Although carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cancer antigen 15-3 (CA15-3) are useful tumor markers (TMs) in metastatic breast cancer (MBC), circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are also detected in patients with advanced or metastatic breast cancer. We analyzed CTCs in MBC patients in order to establish the optimal cut-off value, to evaluate the prognostic utility of CTC count, and to clarify whether CTC count could provide information in addition to CEA and CA15-3.

Methods: We studied 98 MBC patients enrolled between June 2007 and March 2013.

Reproducible surveillance breast ultrasound using an image fusion technique in a short-interval follow-up for BI-RADS 3 lesions: a pilot study.

The aim of our study was to verify the utility of surveillance ultrasound (US) using real-time virtual sonography (RVS)--to coordinate present US images with past US images reconstructed from previously acquired US volume data using an image fusion technique--for short-interval follow-up of Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) category 3 mass lesions. We enrolled 20 women (23 lesions) with more than 24 mo of follow-up after classification as BI-RADS category 3 during initial US. US surveillance was scheduled at 6, 12 and 24 mo.

Impact of real-time virtual sonography, a coordinated sonography and MRI system that uses an image fusion technique, on the sonographic evaluation of MRI-detected lesions of the breast in second-look sonography.

The aim of this study was to verify the utility of second-look sonography using real-time virtual sonography (RVS)-a coordinated sonography with an MRI system that uses an image fusion technique with magnetic navigation-on the sonographic evaluation of MRI-detected lesions of the breast. Of the 196 consecutive patients who were examined with breast MRI in our hospital from 2006 to 2009, those patients who underwent second-look sonography to identify MRI-detected lesions were enrolled in this study. MRI was performed using a 1.