Selection of Optimal Functional Lymphatic Vessel Cutoff Size in Supermicrosurgical Lymphaticovenous Anastomosis in Lower Extremity Lymphedema.

Background: Functional lymphatic vessels are essential for supermicrosurgical lymphaticovenous anastomosis. Theoretically, the larger the lymphatic vessel, the better the flow. However, large lymphatic vessels are not readily available.

Effects of Dietary Guidance without Dietary Fiber Supplements on the Symptoms, Quality of Life, and Dietary Intake in Patients with Fecal Incontinence.

Objectives: Dietary fiber (DF) supplements improve fecal incontinence (FI). Here, we investigated the effects of dietary guidance without DF supplements in patients with FI.

Methods: This was an interventional study on the nutritional guidance alone by a dietitian where outcomes were compared before and one month after the guidance.

Diffusion-weighted imaging with simultaneous multi-slice echo-planar technique for the diagnosis of breast magnetic resonance imaging.

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic potential of simultaneous multi-slice echo-planar diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) (SMS-DWI).

Materials And Methods: A total of 55 consecutive patients underwent breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) between April and September 2018. SMS-DWI and single-shot echo-planar DWI (SS-EPI-DWI) sequences were obtained with the following parameters: b value, 0, 850, and 1200 mm/s for both; spacing between sections, 2 mm for SMS-DWI and 3 mm for SS-EPI-DWI.

Dietary trends in patients with fecal incontinence compared with the National Health and Nutrition Survey.

Objectives: Dietary guidance for patients with fecal incontinence (FI) in Japan is lacking. Here, we sought to investigate dietary trends of patients with FI.

Methods: We performed a comparative study of dietary intake par day between patients with FI and the national mean.

Multicenter Observational Study of Fulvestrant 500 mg in Postmenopausal Japanese Women with Estrogen Receptor-Positive Advanced or Recurrent Breast Cancer after Prior Endocrine Treatment (SBCCSG29 Study).

Background: Fulvestrant 500 mg has been an option for endocrine therapy for advanced or recurrent breast cancer after prior endocrine treatment since November 2011 in Japan. This study aimed to clarify the effectiveness and safety of fulvestrant 500 mg in clinical settings.

Methods: This was a multicenter, both prospective and retrospective, observational study of 132 postmenopausal women (median age 66) with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer, who had been treated with fulvestrant.

MRI Findings After Cryoablation of Primary Breast Cancer Without Surgical Resection.

Rationale And Objectives: To retrospectively evaluate findings on serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after cryoablation for breast cancer lesions without subsequent surgical resection.

Materials And Methods: This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board and the requirement to obtain informed consent waived. Ductal carcinoma in situ or invasive carcinoma ≤15 mm, nuclear grade 1 or 2, estrogen receptor positive/human epidermal growth factor 2 negative without lymph node metastasis were treated with cryoablation without subsequent excision.

Shear Wave Speed of the Lesion in Preoperative Breast Ultrasonography: Association with Disease-free Survival of Patients with Primary Operable Invasive Breast Cancer.

Rationale And Objectives: We aimed to investigate the relationship between shear wave speed (SWS) of the lesion on preoperative breast ultrasonography (US) and disease-free survival of patients with primary operable invasive breast cancer.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study was approved by our Institutional Review Board. The requirement for informed consent was waived.

Preoperative breast MRI: reproducibility and significance of findings relevant to nipple-areolar complex involvement.

Background: Eligibility of nipple-sparing mastectomy has been expanded. The purpose of this study was to evaluate interobserver agreement regarding magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) descriptors important in determining eligibility for mastectomy, and to investigate the significance of enhancement extending to the areola concerning nipple-areolar complex (NAC) involvement.

Methods: Fifty-one cases with histologically confirmed NAC involvement and 54 cases with negative NAC were enrolled.

Breast MRI as a Problem-solving Study in the Evaluation of BI-RADS Categories 3 and 4 Microcalcifications: Is it Worth Performing?

Rationale And Objectives: We aimed to investigate the utility of problem-solving breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for mammographic Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) categories 3 and 4 microcalcifications.

Materials And Methods: Between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2011, 138 women with 146 areas of categories 3 and 4 microcalcifications without sonographic correlates underwent breast MRI and had a stereotactic core biopsy using an 11-gauge needle or follow-up at least for 24 months. Positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value, sensitivity, and specificity were calculated on the basis of BI-RADS category, with categories 1-3 being considered benign and categories 4 and 5 being considered malignant.

Single focus on breast magnetic resonance imaging: diagnosis based on kinetic pattern and patient age.

Background Because of its small size, a focus in breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) must be evaluated on the basis of characteristics other than morphologic features. Patient-related factors including patient age, in conjunction with lesion-related factors, could be useful for decision-making. Purpose To assess the probability of malignant foci based on both lesion- and patient-related factors, and to propose a relevant decision-making method.

Feasibility and potential limitations of abbreviated breast MRI: an observer study using an enriched cohort.

Background: Breast cancer screening using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been introduced in Western countries primarily for populations with an elevated risk of breast cancer. We conducted an observer study involving an experimental abbreviated MRI interpretation by Japanese radiologists, using an enriched cohort, to evaluate its feasibility in a screening setting.

Methods: Eighty-eight breast MRI examinations including 28 cases with breast cancer were enrolled as study subjects.

Automated volumetric breast density estimation out of digital breast tomosynthesis data: feasibility study of a new software version.

Background: A new software version of VolparaDensity (Volpara Algorithm version 1.5.1) is capable of calculating volumetric breast density (VBD) using either full-field digital mammography (FFDM) or digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) images.

Descriptors of Malignant Non-mass Enhancement of Breast MRI: Their Correlation to the Presence of Invasion.

Rationale And Objectives: This study aims to investigate the clinical significance of malignant non-mass enhancement (NME) descriptors in breast magnetic resonance images by assessing their correlation to the presence of invasion or lymph node metastasis.

Materials And Methods: Three radiologists independently reviewed magnetic resonance images with malignant NMEs between January 2008 and December 2009. Distribution was assessed first, and then each of four internal enhancement patterns-clumped, clustered ring, branching, and hypointense area-was evaluated dichotomously (yes or no).

Morphology evaluation of nonmass enhancement on breast MRI: Effect of a three-step interpretation model for readers' performances and biopsy recommendations.

Objective: To evaluate and compare the use of a newly introduced interpretation model for breast nonmass enhancement (NME, defined as an area of enhancement without a three-dimensional, space-occupying lesion) with the use of the standard interpretation method based on BI-RADS.

Materials And Methods: Two expert and two less-experienced breast imaging radiologists performed reading sessions of 86 malignant and 64 benign NME lesions twice. First, radiologists characterized NME using BI-RADS descriptors and assessed the likelihood of malignancy and need for a biopsy.

Breast Shape Change Associated with Aging: A Study Using Prone Breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Background: Objective assessments of the shapes of various parts of the body can be made using images acquired with multidetector row computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. These images can be useful for understanding the changes in body shape that accompany aging.

Methods: Data from our previous bilateral prone breast magnetic resonance imaging studies between March and August 2013 were analyzed.

Two Distinct Types of Linear Distribution in Nonmass Enhancement at Breast MR Imaging: Difference in Positive Predictive Value between Linear and Branching Patterns.

Purpose: To compare positive predictive values (PPVs) of linearly distributed nonmass enhancement (NME) with linear and branching patterns and to identify imaging characteristics of NME that would enable classification as Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System category 3 lesions.

Materials And Methods: The institutional review board approved this retrospective study and waived the requirement to obtain informed consent. Reports of breast magnetic resonance (MR) examinations (n = 9453) that described NME were reviewed from examinations performed at the study institution from January 2008 to December 2011.

Breast density: the trend in breast cancer screening.

The primary modality for breast cancer screening is mammography. Recent investigations, however, have indicated that an insufficient number of life-threatening cases have been detected by mammography while mammography can often results in a large number of overdiagnoses. To make breast cancer screening more effective, potential factors that influence screening efficacy need to be elucidated.

Feasibility study of a breast density measurement within a direct photon-counting mammography scanner system.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical feasibility of breast density measurements by a new application within a direct photon-counting mammography scanner system.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study of consecutive women who underwent mammography using a direct photon-counting mammography scanner system (MicroDose mammography SI; Philips Digital Mammography Sweden AB) was performed at the authors' institution between September and December 2013. Quantitative volumetric glandularity measurements were performed automatically for each acquired mammographic image using an application (Breast Density Measurement; Philips Digital Mammography Sweden AB).