Optimized breast MRI functional tumor volume as a biomarker of recurrence-free survival following neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Purpose: To evaluate optimal contrast kinetics thresholds for measuring functional tumor volume (FTV) by breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for assessment of recurrence-free survival (RFS).

Materials And Methods: In this Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved retrospective study of 64 patients (ages 29-72, median age of 48.6) undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) for breast cancer, all patients underwent pre-MRI1 and postchemotherapy MRI4 of the breast.

Relationship of glioblastoma multiforme to the subventricular zone is associated with survival.

The subventricular zone (SVZ) lines the lateral ventricles and represents the origin of neural and some cancer stem cells. Tumors contacting the SVZ may be more invasive with higher potential to recruit migratory progenitor cells. Our specific aim was to determine whether SVZ involvement in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is associated with a higher recurrence rate and shorter overall survival.

Student-facilitated radiology-pathology correlation conferences: an experiential educational tool to teach multidisciplinary patient care.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to provide an experiential educational activity during the fourth-year radiology clerkship through a student-facilitated radiology-pathology correlation conference held as part of the radiology departmental conference to increase students' exposure to the longitudinal, multidisciplinary care of a patient and to enhance undergraduate medical education in radiology, pathology, and oncology.

Methods: During July 2006, a formal radiology-pathology correlation conference held by medical students was added to the core curriculum for residents and fellows. A total of 141 students, in groups of 3 to 5, collaborated with an attending radiologist to choose an interesting case with radiology and pathology correlation and subsequently met with a fellow or attending physician in the pathology department to review the slides and pathologic diagnosis.

Screening mammography: does ethnicity influence patient preferences for higher recall rates given the potential for earlier detection of breast cancer?

Purpose: To prospectively survey the preferences of an underserved and predominantly minority population of women regarding their understanding of screening mammography, desire for recall and early detection, and willingness to continue with annual screening mammography once given a false-positive result.

Materials And Methods: A total of 1011 women who were going to undergo mammography completed a HIPAA-compliant, Institutional Review Board-approved, validated survey in one of three languages: English, Spanish, or Haitian-Creole. Data were analyzed across three groups (ie, white, black, Hispanic) by using chi(2) analysis.

Use of radiologic imaging to enhance physical diagnosis instruction in the preclinical curriculum.

Rationale And Objectives: To expose students in the premedical years to imaging and its indications, to enhance their understanding of pathologic processes by allowing direct visualization, and to teach physical diagnosis through an integrated, multispecialty approach.

Materials And Methods: A total of 166 second-year medical students participated in a novel imaging session that accompanied the physical diagnosis course they were concurrently enrolled in. Students were provided a didactic orientation to imaging and taught how to use Picture Archiving and Communications System software.

The Shrinking Breast: An Unusual Mammographic Finding of Invasive Lobular Carcinoma.

We report two cases of invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast that were initially missed on first mammographic interpretation because of an uncommon, easily overlooked, and unreported imaging presentation. The abnormality in the cases manifested as an apparent decrease in breast glandular tissue volume when compared with the patients' previous mammograms, observed as "shrinking" of the breast on mammography. Invasive lobular carcinoma is considered one of the most difficult subtypes of breast cancer to identify on mammography because the changes that occur are often nonspecific and subtle.

Epidermal growth factor receptor - mediated signal transduction in the development and therapy of gliomas.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and its ligands figure prominently in the biology of gliomas, the most common tumors of the central nervous system (CNS). Although their histologic classification seems to be straightforward, these tumors constitute a heterogeneous class of related neoplasms. They are associated with a variety of molecular abnormalities affecting signal transduction, transcription factors, apoptosis, angiogensesis, and the extracellular matrix.

Mechanisms of metastasis as related to receptor tyrosine kinases in small-cell lung cancer.

Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive, malignant neoplasm with a 5-year survival of less than 10%. This poor survival rate is related to a high propensity for recurrence and a high rate of metastases. Metastases initially occur in the lymph nodes and thereafter in other organs such as the lung itself, liver, adrenal glands, brain, bone, and bone marrow.