Volumetric Tissue Imaging of Surgical Tissue Specimens Using Micro-Computed Tomography: An Emerging Digital Pathology Modality for Nondestructive, Slide-Free Microscopy-Clinical Applications of Digital Pathology in 3 Dimensions.

Objectives: Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) is a novel, nondestructive, slide-free digital imaging modality that enables the acquisition of high-resolution, volumetric images of intact surgical tissue specimens. The aim of this systematic mapping review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the available literature on clinical applications of micro-CT tissue imaging and to assess its relevance and readiness for pathology practice.

Methods: A computerized literature search was performed in the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and CENTRAL databases.

Dynamics of the Zebrafish Skeleton in Three Dimensions During Juvenile and Adult Development.

Zebrafish are a valuable model for normal vertebrate skeletogenesis and the study of myriad bone disorders. Bones grow, ossify and change shape throughout the zebrafish lifetime, and 3D technologies allow us to examine skeletogenic processes in detail through late developmental stages. To facilitate analysis of shape, orientation and tissue density of skeletal elements throughout ontogeny and adulthood, we generated a high-resolution skeletal reference dataset of wild-type zebrafish development.

Volumetric Imaging of Lung Tissue at Micrometer Resolution: Clinical Applications of Micro-CT for the Diagnosis of Pulmonary Diseases.

Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) is a promising novel medical imaging modality that allows for non-destructive volumetric imaging of surgical tissue specimens at high spatial resolution. The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive assessment of the clinical applications of micro-CT for the tissue-based diagnosis of lung diseases. This scoping review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews, aiming to include every clinical study reporting on micro-CT imaging of human lung tissues.

Current clinical applications and potential perspective of micro-computed tomography in cardiovascular imaging: A systematic scoping review.

Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) constitutes an emerging imaging technique, which can be utilized in cardiovascular medicine to study in-detail the microstructure of heart and vessels. This paper aims to systematically review the clinical utility of micro-CT in cardiovascular imaging and propose future applications of micro-CT imaging in cardiovascular research. A systematic scoping review was conducted by searching for original studies written in English according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) extension for scoping reviews.

Micro-CT-Based Quantification of Extracted Thrombus Burden Characteristics and Association With Angiographic Outcomes in Patients With ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: The QUEST-STEMI Study.

Angiographic detection of thrombus in STEMI is associated with adverse outcomes. However, routine thrombus aspiration failed to demonstrate the anticipated benefit. Hence, management of high coronary thrombus burden remains challenging.

Novel Detection Scheme for X-ray Small-Angle Scattering.

X-ray imaging techniques, including x-ray radiography and computed tomography, have been in use for decades and proven effective and indispensable in diagnosis and therapy due to their fine resolution and fast acquisition speed. However, the innate disadvantage of x-ray is the poor soft tissue contrast. Small-angle scattering signals were shown to provide unique information about the abnormality of soft tissues that is complementary to the traditional attenuation image.

Feasibility of Perioperative Micro-Computed Tomography of Human Lung Cancer Specimens: A Pilot Study.

Context.—: Lesion localization during intraoperative frozen section of lung resection specimens can be challenging. Imaging could aid lesion localization while enabling 3-dimensional specimen analysis.

Variability in Predictions from Online Tools: A Demonstration Using Internet-Based Melanoma Predictors.

Background: Prognostic models are increasingly being made available online, where they can be publicly accessed by both patients and clinicians. These online tools are an important resource for patients to better understand their prognosis and for clinicians to make informed decisions about treatment and follow-up. The goal of this analysis was to highlight the possible variability in multiple online prognostic tools in a single disease.

Prediction of primary breast cancer size and T-stage using micro-computed tomography in lumpectomy specimens.

Background: Histopathology is the only accepted method to measure and stage the breast tumor size. However, there is a need to find another method to measure and stage the tumor size when the pathological assessment is not available. Micro-computed tomography.

Breast Cancer Screening for Women at Average Risk: 2015 Guideline Update From the American Cancer Society.

Importance: Breast cancer is a leading cause of premature mortality among US women. Early detection has been shown to be associated with reduced breast cancer morbidity and mortality.

Objective: To update the American Cancer Society (ACS) 2003 breast cancer screening guideline for women at average risk for breast cancer.

The 2013 symposium on pathology data integration and clinical decision support and the current state of field.

Background: Pathologists and informaticians are becoming increasingly interested in electronic clinical decision support for pathology, laboratory medicine and clinical diagnosis. Improved decision support may optimize laboratory test selection, improve test result interpretation and permit the extraction of enhanced diagnostic information from existing laboratory data. Nonetheless, the field of pathology decision support is still developing.

Designing audience-centered interactive voice response messages to promote cancer screenings among low-income Latinas.

Introduction: Cancer screening rates among Latinas are suboptimal. The objective of this study was to explore how Latinas perceive cancer screening and the use and design of interactive voice response (IVR) messages to prompt scheduling of 1 or more needed screenings.

Methods: Seven focus groups were conducted with Latina community health center patients (n = 40) in need of 1 or more cancer screenings: 5 groups were of women in need of 1 cancer screening (breast, cervical, or colorectal), and 2 groups were of women in need of multiple screenings.

Observations in lung cancer over multiple decades: an analysis of outcomes and cost at a single high-volume institution.

Objectives: This study reviews survival outcomes and cost of lung cancer care over multiple decades at a single high-volume institution.

Methods: All patients with a diagnosis of lung cancer were analysed at a single institution from 1959 to 2010. Data were extracted from a tumour registry, which was linked to a longitudinal medical record, clinical data repository and social security master death index.

A failure analysis of invasive breast cancer: most deaths from disease occur in women not regularly screened.

Background: Mortality reduction from mammographic screening is controversial. Individual randomized trials and meta-analyses demonstrate statistically significant mortality reductions in all age groups invited to screening. In women actually screened, mortality reductions are greater.

Initial clinical findings of a mathematical model to predict survival of head and neck cancer.

Objectives: (1) Identify clinical features that impact survival for head and neck cancer. (2) Determine the individual contribution to mortality of significant clinical features. (3) Develop a web-based calculator to integrate clinical features and predict survival outcome for individual patients.

A pilot study evaluating shaved cavity margins with micro-computed tomography: a novel method for predicting lumpectomy margin status intraoperatively.

Microscopically clear lumpectomy margins are essential in breast conservation, as involved margins increase local recurrence. Currently, 18-50% of lumpectomies have close or positive margins that require re-excision. We assessed the ability of micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) to evaluate lumpectomy shaved cavity margins (SCM) intraoperatively to determine if this technology could rapidly identify margin involvement by tumor and reduce re-excision rates.

American Cancer Society lung cancer screening guidelines.

Findings from the National Cancer Institute's National Lung Screening Trial established that lung cancer mortality in specific high-risk groups can be reduced by annual screening with low-dose computed tomography. These findings indicate that the adoption of lung cancer screening could save many lives. Based on the results of the National Lung Screening Trial, the American Cancer Society is issuing an initial guideline for lung cancer screening.

N0/N1, PNL, or LNR? The effect of lymph node number on accurate survival prediction in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Introduction: We evaluated the prognostic accuracy of LN variables (N0/N1), numbers of positive lymph nodes (PLN), and lymph node ratio (LNR) in the context of the total number of examined lymph nodes (ELN).

Methods: Patients from SEER and a single institution (MGH) were reviewed and survival analyses performed in subgroups based on numbers of ELN to calculate excess risk of death (hazard ratio, HR).

Results: In SEER and MGH, higher numbers of ELN improved the overall survival for N0 patients.

Prevalence and implications of multiple cancer screening needs among Hispanic community health center patients.

Objectives: To examine adherence rates for multiple cancer screening tests, which will inform prevention efforts in community health centers (CHCs).

Methods: We report on the prevalence of screening for multiple cancers (cervical, breast and colorectal) among 43,000 patients who are predominantly Hispanic, in four CHC sites that share an integrated electronic medical record.

Results: Among the 20,057 patients eligible for at least one test, 43% of the population was current on all screening targets; 15,887 additional screening tests were needed among 11,526 individuals.

Improved web-based calculators for predicting breast carcinoma outcomes.

We describe a set of web-based calculators, available at http://www.CancerMath.net , which estimate the risk of breast carcinoma death, the reduction in life expectancy, and the impact of various adjuvant treatment choices.

The non-breast-cancer death rate among breast cancer patients.

Non-breast-cancer deaths currently account for almost half of deaths among breast carcinoma patients in the 15 years following diagnosis. Understanding the trends of non-breast-cancer death is vital for calibrating treatment and survival expectations, and for understanding the consequences of potentially toxic therapies. To observe trends over time in non-breast-cancer relative survival-the non-breast-cancer survival rates of breast cancer patients relative to the non-breast-cancer survival rates of the population as a whole, matched for gender, race, age, region, and year of diagnosis.

Diagnosis of breast cancer in women age 40 and younger: delays in diagnosis result from underuse of genetic testing and breast imaging.

Background: The impact of newer breast imaging technologies and genetic testing on the detection of breast cancer in women age 40 and younger remains unknown.

Methods: A records review identified 628 women age 40 and younger diagnosed with breast cancer from 1996 to 2008. Patient and tumor characteristics, means of diagnosis, imaging results, and genetic testing were examined.

Occult nipple involvement in breast cancer: clinicopathologic findings in 316 consecutive mastectomy specimens.

Purpose: Although breast-conserving surgery is a standard approach for patients with breast cancer, mastectomy often becomes necessary. Surgical options now include nipple-sparing mastectomy but its oncological safety is still controversial. This study evaluates frequency and patterns of occult nipple involvement in a large contemporary cohort of patients with the retroareolar margin as possible indicator of nipple involvement.