Publications by authors named "Katie N Hunt"

Article Synopsis
  • Tumor immune infiltration and blood immune signatures are important for predicting outcomes in breast cancer, but their link to response from neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) hasn't been well studied.
  • In a study of 126 breast cancer patients, various immune cell populations in their blood were analyzed to determine if these profiles could predict how well patients would respond to NAC.
  • The findings indicated that specific immune cell types (like myeloid cells in triple-negative and T cells in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer) correlated with treatment responses, while those in HER2-positive cancer showed no significant associations.
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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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Early detection of breast cancer through screening mammography saves lives. However, the sensitivity of mammography for breast cancer detection is reduced in women with dense breast tissue. Imaging modalities for supplemental breast cancer screening include MRI, whole breast US, contrast-enhanced mammography, and molecular breast imaging (MBI).

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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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To facilitate the delivery of accurate and timely care to patients in complex environments, process improvement methodologies such as Lean can be very effective. Lean is a quality improvement methodology that seeks to add value for patients and employees by continuously improving processes and eliminating waste. At our institution, Lean principles were applied to improve efficiency and minimize waste in the diagnostic breast imaging reading room.

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Molecular breast imaging (MBI) is a nuclear medicine technique that has evolved considerably over the past two decades. Technical advances have allowed reductions in administered doses to the point that they are now acceptable for screening. The most common radiotracer used in MBI, 99mTc-sestamibi, has a long history of safe use.

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Purpose: Patient-derived xenografts (PDX) are a research tool for studying cancer biology and drug response phenotypes. While engraftment rates are higher for tumors with more aggressive characteristics, it is uncertain whether engraftment is prognostic for cancer recurrence.

Patients And Methods: In a prospective study of patients with breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) with taxane ± trastuzumab followed by anthracycline-based chemotherapy, we report the association between breast cancer events and PDX engraftment using tumors derived from treatment naïve (pre-NAC biopsies from 113 patients) and treatment resistant (post-NAC at surgery from 34 patients).

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Objective: Document occurrence of breast cancer in females after liver, kidney, or pancreas transplantation seen at a tertiary medical center.

Methods: Medical records of adult female patients with liver, kidney, or pancreas transplants from 1/1/1995 to 4/4/2014 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with a history of breast cancer, no mammogram post-transplant, or no research authorization were excluded.

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Clinically, acute mastitis presents as a red, swollen, and painful breast. Targeted ultrasound can be performed to evaluate the extent of infection and for an underlying abscess. Noncomplicated mastitis or a small fluid collection may respond to oral antibiotics without further intervention, but a larger or more complex abscess may require single or serial percutaneous aspiration.

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Rationale And Objectives: We analyzed multi-institutional data to determine if Step 3 performance tiers can identify radiology residents with increased risk of Core examination failure and submean performance.

Materials And Methods: We collected Step 3 scores (USMLE Step 3 or COMLEX Level 3) and American Board of Radiology (ABR) Core examination outcomes and scores for anonymized residents from 13 different Diagnostic Radiology residency programs taking the ABR Core examination between 2013 and 2019. Step 3 scores were converted to percentiles based on Z-score, with Core outcome and performance analyzed for Step 3 groups based on 50th percentile and based on quintiles.

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The purpose of this article is to review clinical uses and image interpretation of molecular breast imaging (MBI) and clarify radiation risks. MBI detects additional cancers compared with conventional imaging in women with dense breasts and those with elevated risk of breast cancer. Its role as an imaging biomarker of cancer risk and in assessing neoadjuvant chemotherapy response is growing.

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Purpose: We analyzed multi-institutional data to understand the relationship of ACR Diagnostic Radiology In-Training Examination (DXIT) scores to ABR Core examination performance.

Methods: We collected DXIT rank scores and ABR Core examination outcomes and scores for anonymized residents from 12 different diagnostic radiology residency programs taking the ABR Core examination between 2013 and 2019. DXIT scores were grouped into quintiles based on rank score for residency year 1 (R1), residency year 2 (R2), and residency year 3 (R3) residents.

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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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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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Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to compare the effectiveness of breast MRI and molecular breast imaging (MBI) in assessing the size of invasive breast cancer before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and evaluate their accuracy against pathological findings.
  • It involved women with invasive breast cancer, measuring tumor size before and after NAC through both imaging methods, and found that the results from MRI and MBI were closely aligned in many cases.
  • Although both modalities showed similar abilities in determining disease size, neither was fully accurate in detecting residual disease post-NAC, indicating a need for additional tissue diagnosis to confirm findings.
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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: The purpose of this study is to compare the performance of dual-energy CT (DECT) with that of breast MRI for detection of silicone gel breast implant rupture and nodal spread of silicone.

Subjects And Methods: This prospective study enrolled consecutive patients with current or prior silicone gel implants and clinical suspicion of implant rupture or extra-capsular silicone. All patients underwent MRI followed by unenhanced DECT.

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