Breast tumour volume and blood flow measured by MRI after one cycle of epirubicin and cyclophosphamide-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy as predictors of pathological response.

Objectives: Better markers of early response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) in patients with breast cancer are required to enable the timely identification of non-responders and reduce unnecessary treatment side-effects. Early functional imaging may better predict response to treatment than conventional measures of tumour size. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that the change in tumour blood flow after one cycle of NACT would predict pathological response.

The Potential Impact of Digital Breast Tomosynthesis on the Benign Biopsy Rate in Women Recalled within the UK Breast Screening Programme.

Background Multiple studies showed digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) has a higher cancer detection rate and a lower recall rate than full-field digital mammography (FFDM). However, there is a paucity of studies on whether the benign biopsy rate will be lower with DBT. Purpose To evaluate the benign biopsy rate of DBT versus that of FFDM in women recalled after breast screening within the National Health Service Breast Screening Programme.

Estimating breast tumor blood flow during neoadjuvant chemotherapy using interleaved high temporal and high spatial resolution MRI.

Purpose: To evaluate an interleaved MRI sampling strategy that acquires both high temporal resolution (HTR) dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) data for quantifying breast tumor blood flow (TBF) and high spatial resolution (HSR) DCE data for clinical reporting, following a single standard injection of contrast agent.

Methods: A simulation study was used to evaluate the performance of the interleaved technique under different conditions. In a prospective clinical study, 18 patients with primary breast cancer, who were due to undergo neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT), were examined using interleaved HTR and HSR DCE-MRI at 1.

Imaging overview of metaplastic carcinomas of the breast: a large study of 71 cases.

Objective:: To review the clinical presentation, baseline imaging features, surgical management and final surgical pathology of metaplastic carcinoma of the breast.

Methods:: A total of 71 cases were identified over a 10-year period from two major UK breast cancer institutions. Imaging at diagnosis including mammography, ultrasound, MRI and CT scans and histological diagnosis were reviewed.

Effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on breast cancer phenotype, ER/PR and HER2 expression - Implications for the practising oncologist.

Purpose: To assess the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) on breast cancer characteristics, hormone receptors and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression and whether testing should be repeated on residual tumours.

Material And Methods: Patients with primary operable breast cancer who received NACT at a single United Kingdom tertiary referral centre were included. Tumour type, grade (including details of mitotic grade, tubule formation and pleomorphism), oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and HER2 status were compared between pre-treatment and post-treatment residual samples using tissue microarrays.

Palpable ductal carcinoma in situ: analysis of radiological and histological features of a large series with 5-year follow-up.

Background: Palpable pure DCIS is a rare entity that presents differently than screen-detected DCIS. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical, radiological, and pathological characteristics and management of pDCIS in a retrospective cohort of patients.

Patients And Methods: Patients diagnosed with pDCIS from January 1999 to December 2011 were identified from an electronic patient database and were included in this study.

What is the significance of flat epithelial atypia and what are the management implications?

Aims: To assess the significance of flat epithelial atypia (FEA) on core biopsy by evaluating the proportion of cases upgraded to in-situ and invasive carcinoma on further sampling with vacuum-assisted biopsy (VAB) or diagnostic surgical biopsy.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed of all core biopsies containing FEA and/or atypical intraductal proliferation (AIDP) in the pathology database from April 2008 to April 2010 (n=90). Before April 2009, the majority of core biopsies containing FEA and/or AIDP proceeded to surgical biopsy.

Overview of gynecomastia in the modern era and the Leeds Gynaecomastia Investigation algorithm.

Gynecomastia is a benign enlargement of male breast glandular tissue. At least a third of males are affected at some time during their lifetime. Idiopathic causes exceed other etiologies and relate to an imbalance in the ratio of estrogen to androgen tissue levels or end-organ responsiveness to these hormones.