Utility of B-Mode, Color Doppler and Elastography in the Diagnosis of Breast Cancer: Results of the CD-CONFIRM Multicenter Study of 1351 Breast Solid Masses.

The usefulness of color Doppler ultrasound (CD) in distinguishing between benign and malignant breast lesions remains controversial. Our prior study, the Japan Association of Breast and Thyroid Sonology (JABTS) BC-04 study (malignant: 839, benign: 569), found CD was useful in breast cancer diagnosis, and we developed CD diagnostic criteria. The first aim of the current study (the CD-CONFIRM study) was to evaluate the usefulness of the CD diagnostic criteria.

Ultrasound Image Classification of Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) of the Breast: Analysis of 705 DCIS Lesions.

The Japan Association of Breast and Thyroid Sonology (JABTS) proposed, in 2003, a conceptual classification system for non-mass abnormalities to be applied in addition to the conventional concept of masses, to facilitate detecting ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) lesions. The aim of this study was to confirm the utility of this system and to clarify the distribution of these findings in DCIS lesions. Data on 705 surgically treated DCIS lesions from 16 institutions in Japan were retrospectively reviewed.

Association of body mass index with risk of luminal A but not luminal B estrogen receptor-positive and HER2-negative breast cancer for postmenopausal Japanese women.

Background: The impact of body mass index (BMI) on the risk of postmenopausal estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancers has been well documented. However, the mechanism for the impact of BMI on the etiology of luminal A and luminal B subtypes has not yet been identified.

Methods: We analyzed associations between BMI and breast cancers stratified by immunohistochemically defined intrinsic subtypes, and 1,297 Japanese women (615 breast cancer patients and 682 healthy women from a breast cancer screening program) were enrolled in a case-control study.

Sonographic and pathologic image analysis of pure mucinous carcinoma of the breast.

The aims of this study were to elucidate sonographic and histologic features of pure mucinous carcinoma (P-MC) of the breast using quantitative analysis and to evaluate the relationship between quantitative analysis and visual qualitative assessment. Eleven P-MCs (nine patients) were evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively. Three experts assessed these sonographic images using the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) lexicon.

Biological characteristics of luminal subtypes in pre- and postmenopausal estrogen receptor-positive and HER2-negative breast cancers.

Background: Estrogen receptor (ER)-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative breast cancers can be divided into luminal A and luminal B subtypes based on Ki67 expression levels. However, the biological differences in ER and progesterone receptor (PR) expression levels between these luminal subtypes are not clear.

Methods: We examined immunohistochemical expression levels of ER, PR, and Ki67 in 180 ER-positive/HER2-negative breast cancers while taking menopausal status into account.

Educational program and testing using images for the standardization of breast cancer screening by ultrasonography.

Background: To improve the quality of breast cancer screening by ultrasonography, both effective training and evaluation of the performance of the examiners of breast ultrasound are essential.

Methods: The Educational Committee of the Japan Association of Breast and Thyroid Sonology, an NPO, has established 2-day training programs on breast ultrasonography with tests at the end of the programs. The tests are performed using images to evaluate the ability of observers to detect and evaluate lesions on ultrasound.

A case of solid neuroendocrine carcinoma of the breast in a 40-year-old woman.

We report a case of neuroendocrine carcinoma in a 40-year-old woman who presented with two lumps in her left breast. Mammography failed to reveal any lesions because she had so-called dense breasts, but ultrasonography showed 4 irregular hypoechoic masses. Magnetic resonance imaging also showed 4 homogeneous lobulated tumors with early contrast enhancement, suggesting malignancy.

Distinct diagnostic criteria for ultrasonographic examination of papillary thyroid carcinoma: a multicenter study.

Recent advances permitting high-resolution ultrasonography have made ultrasonographic examination of nodular thyroid diseases an accessible examination for routine practice. However, diagnostic criteria for ultrasonographic examination of thyroid nodules are not surely established. To identify the optimal strategy for well standardized differential diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma and benign nodules, we evaluated the significance of individual ultrasonographic characteristics of thyroid nodules in a multicenter study.

Efficacy of multislice computed tomography for gastroenteric and hepatic surgeries.

Aim: To determine the efficacy of multislice CT for gastroenteric and hepatic surgery.

Methods: Dual-phase helical computed tomography was performed in 50 of 51 patients who underwent gastroenteric and hepatic surgeries. Twenty-eight, eighteen and four patients suffering from colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, and liver cancer respectively underwent colorectal surgery (laparoscopic surgery: 6 cases), gastrectomy, and hepatectomy.

Prognostic value of combined analysis of estrogen receptor status and cellular proliferative activity in breast cancer patients with extensive lymph node metastases.

Breast cancer patients with four or more lymph node metastases generally show poor prognosis. However, some can survive for a long period. In this study, we retrospectively evaluated these cases for estrogen receptor status and cell proliferation potential in an attempt to predict patient outcome more accurately.