Publications by authors named "Carrie B Hruska"

Purpose To develop a molecular breast imaging (MBI)-guided biopsy system using dual-detector MBI and to perform initial testing in participants. Materials and Methods The Stereo Navigator MBI Accessory biopsy system comprises a lower detector, upper fenestrated compression paddle, and upper detector. The upper detector retracts, allowing craniocaudal, oblique, or medial or lateral biopsy approaches.

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Molecular breast imaging (MBI) is one of several options available to patients seeking supplemental screening due to mammographically dense breasts. Patient experience during MBI may influence willingness to undergo the test but has yet to be formally assessed. We aimed to assess patient comfort level during MBI, to compare MBI comfort with mammography comfort, to identify factors associated with MBI discomfort, and to evaluate patients' willingness to return for future MBI.

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Theranostics is the combination of two approaches-diagnostics and therapeutics-applied for decades in cancer imaging using radiopharmaceuticals or paired radiopharmaceuticals to image and selectively treat various cancers. The clinical use of theranostics has increased in recent years, with U.S.

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Article Synopsis
  • AI algorithms enhance the detection of breast cancer through mammography, but their impact on predicting long-term risks for advanced and interval cancers remains unclear.
  • A study involving 2,412 women with invasive breast cancer and 4,995 matched controls analyzed the relationship between an AI malignancy score and breast density measures from mammograms taken 2-5.5 years before diagnosis.
  • Results showed that a higher AI score significantly increased the odds of invasive, interval, and advanced cancers, highlighting the potential of AI in improving long-term risk assessments, particularly for advanced breast cancer.
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Objective: To evaluate how breast cancers come to clinical attention (mode of detection [MOD]) in a population-based cohort, determine the relative frequency of different MODs, and characterize patient and tumor characteristics associated with MOD.

Patients And Methods: We used the Rochester Epidemiology Project to identify women ages 40 to 75 years with a first-time diagnosis of breast cancer from May 9, 2017, to May 9, 2019 (n=500) in a 9-county region in Minnesota. We conducted a retrospective medical record review to ascertain the relative frequency of MODs, evaluating differences between screening mammography vs all other MODs by breast density and cancer characteristics.

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Molecular breast imaging (MBI) is used for various breast imaging indications. An MBI lexicon has been developed, although the likelihood of malignancy of the lexicon descriptors has not been assessed to our knowledge. The purpose of this article was to evaluate the PPV for malignancy of the MBI lexicon imaging descriptors.

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Molecular breast imaging (MBI) is a nuclear medicine study performed with dedicated gamma camera systems optimized to image the uptake of Tc-99m sestamibi in the breast. MBI provides a relatively low-cost and simple functional breast imaging method that can identify breast cancers obscured by dense fibroglandular tissue on mammography. Recent studies have also found that background levels of uptake in benign dense tissue may provide breast cancer risk information.

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Article Synopsis
  • A study was conducted to compare breast density assessments using two types of synthesized mammography—C-View and Intelligent 2D—over a period from March 2017 to December 2019.
  • Researchers analyzed data from 67 patients to see if there were differences in breast density measures using the Clinical Breast Imaging Reporting and Database System and Volpara.
  • The results indicated no significant differences in breast density assessments between the two types of synthesized images, which is relevant for understanding risk stratification and screening recommendations.
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Our previous work showed that variation measures, which represent breast architecture derived from mammograms, were significantly associated with breast cancer. For replication purposes, we examined the association of three variation measures (variation [V], which is measured in the image domain, and P and p [a normalized version of P], which are derived from restricted regions in the Fourier domain) with breast cancer risk in an independent population. We also compared these measures to volumetric density measures (volumetric percent density [VPD] and dense volume [DV]) from a commercial product.

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  • A model developed by Atkins calculates the maximum tolerated activity of 131I based on a 48-hour whole-body retention measurement from a diagnostic scan.
  • The authors' practice involves using iodine 123I for staging metastatic thyroid cancer, with scans taken 24 hours after administration.
  • They investigated adding a 48-hour 123I whole-body scan to measure retention and apply the Atkins model for estimating the maximum tolerated activity of 131I before treatment.
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Screening mammography reduces breast cancer mortality; however, when used to examine women with dense breasts, its performance and resulting benefits are reduced. Increased breast density is an independent risk factor for breast cancer. Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), ultrasound (US), molecular breast imaging (MBI), MRI, and contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM) each have shown improved cancer detection in dense breasts when compared with 2D digital mammography (DM).

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  • The study explored the link between background parenchymal uptake (BPU) in molecular breast imaging (MBI) and breast cancer risk, emphasizing its potential as an indicator beyond mammographic density.
  • A cohort of 2,992 women without prior breast cancer underwent MBI, with results showing that elevated BPU significantly increased breast cancer risk, particularly in postmenopausal women.
  • The 5-year absolute risk of developing breast cancer for women with elevated BPU was 4.3%, compared to 2.5% for those with low BPU, highlighting BPU's role in improving risk assessment for invasive cancer.
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Background The associations of density measures from the publicly available Laboratory for Individualized Breast Radiodensity Assessment (LIBRA) software with breast cancer have primarily focused on estimates from the contralateral breast at the time of diagnosis. Purpose To evaluate LIBRA measures on mammograms obtained before breast cancer diagnosis and compare their performance to established density measures. Materials and Methods For this retrospective case-control study, full-field digital mammograms in for-processing (raw) and for-presentation (processed) formats were obtained (March 2008 to December 2011) in women who developed breast cancer an average of 2 years later and in age-matched control patients.

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Objective: We evaluated the accuracy of molecular breast imaging (MBI)-a nuclear medicine technique that employs dedicated dual-detector, cadmium zinc telluride gamma cameras to image the functional uptake of a radiopharmaceutical (typically Tc-99m sestamibi) in the breast-in patients with suspicious calcifications on mammography.

Methods: Women scheduled for stereotactic biopsy of calcifications detected on 2D digital mammography were prospectively enrolled to undergo MBI before biopsy. Molecular breast imaging was performed with injection of Tc-99m sestamibi and a dual-detector, cadmium zinc telluride gamma camera.

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Purpose: To assess changes in breast density (BD) awareness, knowledge, and attitudes among US women over a period of 5 years.

Methods: Using a probability-based web panel representative of the US population, we administered an identical BD survey in 2012 and 2017 to women aged 40 to 74 years.

Results: In 2017, 65.

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The purpose of this study was to determine whether application of a proprietary image-processing algorithm would allow a reduction in the necessary administered activity for molecular breast imaging (MBI) examinations. Images from standard-dose MBI examinations (300 MBq Tc-sestamibi) of 50 subjects were analyzed. The images were acquired in dynamic mode and showed at least one breast lesion.

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Background: Mammographic breast density declines during menopause. We assessed changes in volumetric breast density across the menopausal transition and factors that influence these changes.

Methods: Women without a history of breast cancer, who had full field digital mammograms during both pre- and postmenopausal periods, at least 2 years apart, were sampled from four facilities within the San Francisco Mammography Registry from 2007 to 2013.

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This case highlights the role of molecular breast imaging (MBI) in evaluating persistent clinical concerns after a negative diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound. MBI is especially useful in the diagnosis of invasive lobular carcinoma due to its occult nature on conventional imaging modalities.

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Article Synopsis
  • High background parenchymal uptake (BPU) on molecular breast imaging (MBI) is a potential risk factor for breast cancer, prompting a study to test if low-dose oral tamoxifen can lower BPU in women with high levels.
  • The study involved 22 participants who underwent an MBI exam, took either 5 mg or 10 mg of tamoxifen daily for 30 days, and had a follow-up MBI exam.
  • Results showed that 38% of participants experienced a significant decline in BPU, especially those on the 10 mg dosage, indicating that higher doses of tamoxifen may be more effective in reducing BPU levels.
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Purpose: Background parenchymal uptake (BPU), which describes the level of radiotracer uptake in normal fibroglandular tissue on molecular breast imaging (MBI), has been identified as a breast cancer risk factor. Our objective was to develop and validate a deep learning model using image convolution to automatically categorize BPU on MBI.

Methods: MBI examinations obtained for clinical and research purposes from 2004 to 2015 were reviewed to classify the BPU pattern using a standardized five-category scale.

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Objective: A number of strategies have been implemented at our institution to allow reductions in the administered dose or imaging time for molecular breast imaging (MBI). In this work, we examine patient opinions of whether dose reduction or time reduction is preferred.

Methods: Sixty female volunteers were randomized to undergo MBI at either half-dose (150 MBq Tc-99m sestamibi; images acquired for 10 minutes per view) or half-time (300 MBq Tc-99m sestamibi; images acquired for 5 minutes per view).

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Purpose To identify phenotypes of mammographic parenchymal complexity by using radiomic features and to evaluate their associations with breast density and other breast cancer risk factors. Materials and Methods Computerized image analysis was used to quantify breast density and extract parenchymal texture features in a cross-sectional sample of women screened with digital mammography from September 1, 2012, to February 28, 2013 (n = 2029; age range, 35-75 years; mean age, 55.9 years).

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Molecular breast imaging (MBI) is a nuclear medicine test that uses dedicated γ-cameras designed for imaging of the breast. Despite growing adoption of MBI, there is currently a lack of guidance on appropriate quality control procedures for MBI systems. Tests designed for conventional γ-cameras either do not apply or must be modified for dedicated detectors.

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