Stratifying drug treatment of cognitive impairments after traumatic brain injury using neuroimaging.

Cognitive impairment is common following traumatic brain injury. Dopaminergic drugs can enhance cognition after traumatic brain injury, but individual responses are highly variable. This may be due to variability in dopaminergic damage between patients.

Optimisation and usefulness of quantitative analysis of F-florbetapir PET.

Objectives: This study investigates the usefulness of quantitative SUVR thresholds on sub types of typical (type A) and atypical (non-type A) positive (Aβ+) and negative (Aβ-) F-florbetapir scans and aims to optimise the thresholds.

Methods: Clinical F-florbetapir scans ( = 100) were categorised by sub type and visual reads were performed independently by three trained readers. Inter-reader agreement and reader-to-reference agreement were measured.

Measurement of glomerular filtration rate in patients undergoing obesity surgery.

Background: Most studies on obesity surgery have measured renal function using the estimated GFR. However, due to the reduction of muscle mass, and therefore creatinine that accompanies weight loss, such measures can falsely suggest an improvement in renal function. To balance the risks of surgery versus any potential benefits on renal function, we need to be able to determine renal function using valid and reliable methodologies.

Dopaminergic abnormalities following traumatic brain injury.

Traumatic brain injury can reduce striatal dopamine levels. The cause of this is uncertain, but is likely to be related to damage to the nigrostriatal system. We investigated the pattern of striatal dopamine abnormalities using 123I-Ioflupane single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scans and their relationship to nigrostriatal damage and clinical features.

Evaluation of breast lesions using sonographic elasticity imaging: a multicenter trial.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of real-time compression elasticity imaging in characterizing breast lesions as benign or malignant.

Methods: A cohort of 578 women scheduled for sonographically guided biopsy of breast lesions were recruited from 6 sites under an Institutional Review Board-approved protocol. All participants received an elastogram, which displayed both the B-mode and elasticity images in real time.

Differentiating benign from malignant solid breast masses with US strain imaging.

Purpose: To prospectively evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of ultrasonographic (US) strain imaging for distinguishing between benign and malignant solid breast masses, with biopsy results as the reference standard.

Materials And Methods: The study was institutional review board approved and HIPAA compliant. Informed consent was obtained from all participating patients.

Acrometastasis to the foot: an unusual presentation of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.

Metastases from bladder cancer to the bones of the hands or feet are rare and usually present after the diagnosis of the primary lesion has been made. This case report describes a 76-year-old man presenting with initial signs of infection of the right foot. Subsequent bone scan revealed multiple bony metastases and hydronephrosis raising the possibility of a primary bladder tumour that was later confirmed by urine cytology and fine needle aspiration of the foot.

A quantitative lymphoscintigraphic evaluation of lymphatic function in the swollen hands of women with lymphoedema following breast cancer treatment.

In BCRL (breast cancer-related lymphoedema), arm swelling is unevenly distributed and some regions are partly or entirely spared. In particular, the hand may or not be swollen, but when involved functional impairment can be substantial. We have found previously that, when the ipsilateral hand is spared of swelling (in a limb with swelling proximal to the hand), the local lymph drainage rate constant (k) is at least as high as in the contralateral hand, contrary to the traditional 'stopcock' concept of reduced lymph drainage from the whole limb.

Invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast with large central acellular zones (ring carcinoma): imaging and clinical findings in eight cases.

Objective: To review the mammographic and ultrasound appearances in patients who have invasive ductal carcinoma with a central acellular zone (ring carcinoma), as this feature has been reported to be associated with a poorer outcome.

Materials: Eight patients were identified with ring carcinomas. Two breast radiologists reviewed their mammograms and ultrasound images.

Idiopathic benign breast calcification.

A 56-year-old woman who came in for screening mammography was found to have extensive unilateral calcification of her left breast which had developed since her previous screening mammogram. The calcification had a ductal and lobular appearance. Possible known etiologies are discussed, but these do not explain the appearance in this case, implying that the cause is idiopathic.