Ultrasound imaging of the lactating breast: methodology and application

Ultrasound imaging has been used extensively to detect abnormalities of the non-lactating breast. In contrast, the use of ultrasound for the investigation of pathology of the lactating breast is limited. Recent studies have re-examined the anatomy of the lactating breast highlighting features unique to this phase of breast development. These features should be taken into consideration along with knowledge of common lactation pathologies in order to make an accurate diagnosis when examining the lactating breast. Scanning techniques and ultrasound appearances of the normal lactating breast will be contrasted to those of the non-lactating breast. In addition ultrasound characteristics of common pathologies encountered during lactation will be described.     

磁共振成像对乳腺肿瘤的诊断价值

乳腺癌是危及女性健康的常见恶性肿瘤之一,病死率较高,且发病年龄呈年轻化趋势。目前临床对乳腺疾病的检查方法很多,既往检查主要包括钼靶、超声等,因价格便宜、操作方便,已成为常规的乳腺疾病检查方法,但两者的敏感性和特异性较低并有自身的局限性。CT软组织分辨率较高,但检查过程中的X线剂量较大,并且动态增强时间较长,故作为乳腺钼靶的补充检查手段。这些检查方法对乳腺疾病均有不同的诊断意义,在当前众多诊断乳腺疾病方法中,具有无辐射,较高软组织分辨力及可多方位多层面成像的乳腺磁共振(MRI)成像有其独到的优势,某些方面能弥补超声和钼靶检查的局限性,乳腺磁共振可提供病灶形态学和增强血流动力学表现,可用于常规检查方法不能确诊病灶的鉴别诊断。乳腺肿瘤MRI成像对临床诊断、鉴别诊断及手术方案的选择有着极其重要的作用。本文就乳腺MRI影像技术、MRI影像学表现及其临床应用予以综述,探讨MRI在乳腺肿瘤中的应用。     

彩超联合钼靶在未扪及肿块乳腺癌诊断中的应用分析

目的:探讨彩色多普勒超声联合钼靶在未扪及肿块乳腺癌中的临床诊断价值。方法:选取我院乳腺科收治的未扪及肿块乳腺癌患者92例,回顾性分析92例患者术前彩色多普勒超声和钼靶检查结果与手术病理相印证,对比不同的检查方法与病理诊断结果的符合率。结果:单纯彩色多普勒超声检查与单纯钼靶机检查诊断准确率无明显差异(P0.05),而彩色多普勒超声联合钼靶机检查诊断准确率明显高于单纯彩色多普勒超声检查诊断准确率和单纯钼靶机检查诊断准确率,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:彩色多普勒超声联合钼靶能够明显提高未扪及肿块乳腺癌诊断的准确率,对临床具有指导意义,值得临床推广。     

The role of various modalities in breast imaging

Background: Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women worldwide. Mammography is considered the "gold standard" in the evaluation of the breast from an imaging perspective. Apart from mammography, ultrasound examination and magnetic resonance imaging are being offered as adjuncts to the preoperative workup. Recently, other new modalities like positron emission tomography, 99mTc-sestamibi scintimammography, and electrical impedance tomography (EIT) are also being offered. However, there is still controversy over the most appropriate use of these new modalities. Based on the literature, this review evaluates the role of various modalities used in the screening and diagnosis of breast cancer. Methods and Results: Based on relevant literatures this article gives an overview of the old and new modalities used in the field of breast imaging. A narrative literature review of all the relevant papers known to the authors was conducted. The search of literatures was done using pubmed and ovid search engines. Additional references were found through bibliography reviews of relevant articles. It was clear that though various new technics and methods have emerged, none have substituted mammography and it is still the only proven screening method for the breast as of date. Conclusion: From the literature it is clear that apropos modern radiology's impact on diagnosis, staging and patient follow-up, only one imaging technique has had a significant impact on screening asymptomatic individuals for cancer i.e.; low-dose mammography. Mammography is the only screening test proven in breast imaging. Positron emission tomography (PET) also plays an important role in staging breast cancer and monitoring treatment response. As imaging techniques improve, the role of imaging will continue to evolve with the goal remaining a decrease in breast cancer morbidity and mortality. Progress in the development and commercialisation of EIT breast imaging system will definitely help to promote other systems and applications based on the EIT and similar visualization methods. Breast ultrasound and breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are frequently used adjuncts to mammography in today's clinical practice and these techniques enhance the radiologist's ability to detect cancer and assess disease extent, which is crucial in treatment planning and staging.     

Promising techniques for breast cancer detection,diagnosis, and staging using non-ionizing radiation imaging techniques

Traditional imaging for the diagnosis and staging of breast cancer has relied on the tissue morphology of cancers in the background of normal patterns of fibroglandular breast tissue. X-ray mammography and ultrasound have been the primary modalities for the diagnosis and the work-up of breast cancer. New modalities have been validated including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET). New pulse sequences in MRI combined with contrast enhancement kinetic perfusion curves have greatly enhanced detection of mammographically occult cancers. New modalities on the horizon include optical imaging, exploiting again the differential perfusion properties of cancers in a background of normal glandular tissue. Even more specificity can be ach eved with the addition of ductal or intravenous introduction of optical probes specific to tumor associated antigens such as the HER-2/neu receptor in aggressive breast cancers. Quantum dots and other fluorescent dyes coupled to peptides or other probes will greatly enhance our ability to detect cancers earlier and without ionizing radiation.     

超声造影联合超声弹性成像组织弥散定量分析在乳腺癌诊断中的应用

摘要 目的：探讨超声造影联合超声弹性成像组织弥散定量分析在乳腺癌诊断中的应用价值。方法：2019年1月至2020年5月选择在本院诊治的乳腺肿瘤患者148例,所有患者都给予超声造影联合超声弹性成像组织弥散定量分析,记录影像学特征。结果：在148例患者中,病理诊断为乳腺癌32例(恶性组),良性乳腺肿瘤116例(良性组)。良性组与恶性组的超声病灶形状、边缘、回声、微钙化等特征对比差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。恶性组的超声造影增强模式、强度与良性组对比差异都有统计学意义(P<0.05)。恶性组的造影灌注参数曲线下面积(Area under the curve,AUC)、峰值强度(Peak intensity,PI)、上升支斜率(Wash in slope,WIS)值都高于良性组,达峰时间(Time To Peak,TTP)值低于良性组,对比差异都有统计学意义(P<0.05)。恶性组的组织弥散定量参数蓝色区域面积百分比(area ratio,%AREA)低于良性组,标准差(standard deviation,SD)、应变均值(mean,MEAN)值高于良性组,对比差异都有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论：超声造影联合超声弹性成像组织弥散定量分析在乳腺癌诊断中的应用作为一种经济快捷、实时无创、重复性好的检查方法,能够定量评估乳腺癌的影像学特征,可为乳腺癌的临床治疗提供更多有价值的信息。     

Mucin-hypersecreting bile duct neoplasm characterized by clinicopathological resemblance to intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) of the pancreas

Background

Ultrasound-guided vacuum-assisted breast biopsy technology is extremely useful for diagnostic biopsy of suspicious breast lesions and for attempted complete excision of appropriately selected presumed benign breast lesions.

Case presentation

A female patient presented with 16 breast lesions (eight within each breast), documented on ultrasound and all presumed to be fibroadenomas. Over a ten and one-half month period of time, 14 of these 16 breast lesions were removed under ultrasound guidance during a total of 11 separate 8-gauge Mammotome^® excision procedures performed during seven separate sessions. Additionally, two of these 16 breast lesions were removed by open surgical excision. A histopathologic diagnosis of fibroadenoma and/or fibroadenomatous changes was confirmed at all lesion excision sites. Interval follow-up ultrasound imaging revealed no evidence of a residual lesion at the site of any of the 16 original breast lesions.

Conclusion

This report describes an innovative approach of utilizing ultrasound-guided 8-gauge vacuum-assisted breast biopsy technology for assisting in achieving complete eradication of multiple bilateral fibroadenomas in a patient who presented with 16 documented breast lesions. As such, this innovative approach is highly recommended in similar appropriately selected patients.     

钼靶和超声检查在乳腺癌临床诊断的准确性的比较分析

摘要 目的：比较与分析钼靶和超声检查在乳腺癌临床诊断的准确性。方法：2018年8月到2021年1月选择在本院进行诊治的乳腺肿瘤患者110例作为研究对象,所有患者都给予钼靶和超声检查,记录影像学特征并判断诊断价值。结果：在110例患者中,病理诊断为乳腺良性肿瘤76例、乳腺癌34例。恶性组钼靶的分叶征、钙化、大角征、毛刺征等比例高于良性组,病灶大小也高于良性组(P<0.05)。恶性组超声的形态不规则、边缘不光整、高回声晕、回声衰减、微钙化等比例高于良性组(P<0.05)。钼靶乳腺影像报告及数据系统(Breast imaging report and data system,BI-RADS)判断为乳腺良性肿瘤72例,乳腺癌38例;超声BI-RADS判断为乳腺良性肿瘤75例,乳腺癌35例,钼靶鉴别诊断乳腺癌的敏感性为93.4%,特异性为97.1%,准确性为94.5%;超声鉴别诊断乳腺癌的敏感性为98.7%,特异性为100.0%,准确性为99.1%。多因素logistic回归分析显示病灶大小、分叶征、回声衰减、毛刺征为导致误诊的重要因素(P<0.05)。结论：乳腺癌在钼靶和超声检查中都有明显的征象特征,超声诊断的准确性更高,病灶大小、分叶征、回声衰减、毛刺征为影响诊断效果的很重要因素。     

Ultrasound Targeted Apoptosis Imaging in Monitoring Early Tumor Response of Trastuzumab in a Murine Tumor Xenograft Model of Her-2–Positive Breast Cancer1

OBJECTIVE: Our study aimed to monitor the trastuzumab therapy response of murine tumor xenograft model with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (Her-2)–positive breast cancer using ultrasound targeted apoptosis imaging. METHODS: We prepared targeted apoptosis ultrasound probes by nanobubble (NB) binding with Annexin V. In vitro, we investigated the binding rate of NB–Annexin V with breast cancer apoptotic cells after the trastuzumab treatment. In vivo, tumor-bearing mice underwent ultrasound targeted imaging over 7 days. After imaging was completed, the tumors were excised to determine Her-2 and caspase-3 expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The correlation between parameters of imaging and histologic results was then analyzed. RESULTS: For seeking the ability of targeted NB binding with apoptotic tumor cells (Her-2 positive), we found that binding rate in the treatment group was higher than that of the control group in vitro (P = .001). There were no differences of tumor sizes in all groups over the treatment process in vivo (P = .98). However, when using ultrasound imaging to visualize tumors by targeted NB in vivo, we observed that the mean and peak intensities from NBs gradually increased in the treatment group after trastuzumab therapy (P = .001). Furthermore, these two parameters were significantly associated with caspase-3 expression of tumor excised samples (P = .0001). CONCLUSION: Ultrasound targeted apoptosis imaging can be a non-invasive technique to evaluate the early breast tumor response to trastuzumab therapy.     

ClearPEM,un TEP dédié au sein

Conventional breast imaging (mammography, ultrasound, MRI) relies on the analysis of anatomical characteristics. Whole-body positron emission tomography (PET) allows for the acquisition of a metabolic image, yet is limited by its poor spatial resolution. The Crystal Clear Collaboration developed a PET dedicated for breast imaging, the ClearPEM, in order to offer a high-resolution nuclear imaging technique. The patient is installed in the prone position on the exam bed, with two detector plates rotating around to breast to acquire a 3-dimensional image. Two prototypes were built and installed in hospitals. We summarize the technical solutions necessary for the development of this system and present a summary of its performances as well as an outlook on preclinical and clinical tests.     

剪切波弹性成像在乳腺实性病变良恶性鉴别中的诊断价值

目的:探讨剪切波弹性成像在乳腺实性病变良恶性鉴别中的诊断价值。方法:收集2012年3月-2013年6月于我院收治的乳腺实性病变患者54例,共65个病灶,先后给予乳腺二维超声检查与剪切波弹性成像检查,采用弹性模量值与钼靶BI-RADS分级方法诊断,比较两种方法诊断的准确性。结果:良性病灶组弹性最小、最大值以及平均值、标准差与恶性病灶组比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);ROC曲线分析显示,在乳腺实性病变良恶性的鉴别中,弹性最大值明显优于平弹性均值;剪切波弹性成像对乳腺实性病变良恶性鉴别的敏感度、特异度、准确度、阳性预测值、阴性预测值高于二维超声技术(P0.05)。结论:剪切波弹性成像在乳腺实性病变良恶性鉴别中具有良好的诊断价值,能够提高诊断的准确性。     

Hard shell gas-filled contrast enhancement particles for colour Doppler ultrasound imaging of tumors

Hollow hard shell particles of 200 nm and 2 micron diameter with a 10 nm thick porous silica shell have been synthesized using polystyrene templates and a sol-gel process. The template ensures than the hollow particles are monodispersed, while the charged silica surface ensures that they remain suspended in solution for weeks. When filled with perfluorocarbon gas, the particles behave as an efficient contrast agent for colour Doppler ultrasound imaging in human breast tissue. The silica shell provides unique properties compared to conventional soft shell particles employed as ultrasound contrast agents: uniform size control, strong adsorption to tissue and cells immobilizing particles at the tissue injection site, a long imaging lifetime, and a silica surface that can be easily modified with biotargeting ligands or small molecules to adjust the surface charge and polarity.     

L’élastographie par ultrasons ou résonance magnétique : de nouveaux outils de diagnostic en cancérologie

Despite recent progress, breast cancer remains today a major public health problem as it represents the main morbidity incidence for woman with 42,000 new cases and 11,600 deaths per year in France. X-Ray mammography which is the “gold standard” exam for breast screening relies on an excellent sensitivity (nevertheless its quality is varying with respect to breast density). However, its specificity for malignancy diagnosis remains moderate leading to many useless interventions for lesions proven a posteriori to be benign by histology. The other imaging techniques such as echography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) also possess their own limits. Echography is strongly operator-dependent. Dynamic MRI with injection of contrast agents has a high sensitivity for breast cancer detection (>90%) but suffers from a moderate specificity (50 to 80% according to the type of cancer). In parallel, although it is strongly subjective, the act of palpation remains today a major act in the workflow of breast screening. Since Egyptian ancient ages, the physicians practise the act of palpating body parts in order to determine tissues stiffness and a hardly deformed mass within an organ is often related to the presence of an abnormal lesion. Palpation is not only useful for screening and diagnosis as the surgeon also uses it during interventions to be effectively guided towards the pathological area. Recently, new techniques based on ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging finally made it possible to map organs elasticity in a quantitative way. These “elastography” techniques could play soon an important role in medical imaging.     

高频超声、钼靶X射线在乳腺BI—RADSⅣ～Ⅴ级诊断中的应用对比研究

目的探讨高频超声、钼靶X射线单独与联合应用在乳腺影像报告与数据系统（BI—RADS）Ⅳ～Ⅴ级诊断中的应用价值及对比研究。方法136个病灶经病理证实为乳腺恶性肿瘤,回顾性分析高频超声、铝靶X射线影像表现,并对诊断的准确性进行统计学分析。结果高频超声、钼靶X射线及两者联合应用对乳腺BI～RADSⅣ～Ⅴ级诊断的正确率、误诊率比较,差异有统计学意义,P〈0．01．结论高频超声在乳腺肿块（BI—RADSⅣ～Ⅴ级）诊断正确率方面优于钼靶X射线,特别是肿瘤直径〈1．0cm,且不伴有钙化时,两者联合应用较单一方法更能提高乳腺肿块（BI—RADSⅣ～Ⅴ级）的检出率及良、恶性鉴别诊断。     

彩色多普勒超声对乳腺癌新辅助化疗疗效的评价研究

目的:探讨彩色多普勒超声(CDFI)对乳腺癌新辅助化疗(NCT)疗效评价的临床应用价值。方法:选取2013年1月~2013年12月在我院接受新辅助化疗后行手术治疗的女性乳腺癌患者55例,以病理学评价为金标准,化疗后根据化疗效果分为有效组和无效组,利用CDFI观察患者NCT前后病灶超声指标、病灶内血流分级及阻力指数(RI)值变化。结果:55例患者中,临床触诊疗效评价符合率为36.4%,敏感度为60.7%;CDFI评价符合率为70.9%,敏感度为85.7%。CDFI检查显示,乳腺癌NCT后原发肿瘤病灶大小显著缩小,边界多清晰可见,内部回声及后方回声倾向正常。有效组NCT前后病灶内的血流类型和RI值变化有统计学意义(P0.05),无效组NCT前后病灶内的血流类型和RI值无明显变化(P0.05)。结论:CDFI技术可对乳腺癌NCT前后病灶大小及病灶内部血流动力学变化提供客观参数,是评价乳腺癌NCT疗效的有效方法。     

Ultrasound Molecular Imaging with Targeted Microbubbles for Cancer Diagnostics: From Bench to Bedside

Background

Ultrasound plays an important role in cancer diagnosis. B-mode imaging and contrast-enhanced ultrasound are routinely used to detect cancerous lesions in breast and liver. The use of ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs) such as microbubbles (MBs), which can be functionalized with targeting ligands, has further enabled ultrasound molecular imaging (USMI) of specific molecular markers in pre-clinical and the first clinical studies. As targeted MBs have a diameter of 1–4 μm, they are limited to the blood vasculature upon intravenous injection, and can bind to markers of the vascular endothelium. USMI with targeted MBs was applied for imaging of markers of inflammation, angiogenesis, and the tumor endothelium.

超声弹性成像技术在乳腺肿块诊断中的研究进展及应用

超声弹性成像技术(UE)是一种新的超声成像技术,能够根据组织硬度进行成像,估计出组织内部的弹性信息,从而反映它的结构特点,该技术较传统触诊检查更加客观,在乳腺肿块的鉴别诊断中有较高的价值,其临床应用广泛并且得到了快速的发展。现就国内外文献对UE技术的原理、图像分析方法、技术研究进展及其在乳腺肿块鉴别诊断中的应用进行综述。     

Magnetoacoustic imaging of electrical conductivity of biological tissues at a spatial resolution better than 2 mm

Magnetoacoustic tomography with magnetic induction (MAT-MI) is an emerging approach for noninvasively imaging electrical impedance properties of biological tissues. The MAT-MI imaging system measures ultrasound waves generated by the Lorentz force, having been induced by magnetic stimulation, which is related to the electrical conductivity distribution in tissue samples. MAT-MI promises to provide fine spatial resolution for biological tissue imaging as compared to ultrasound resolution. In the present study, we first estimated the imaging spatial resolution by calculating the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the system point spread function (PSF). The actual spatial resolution of our MAT-MI system was experimentally determined to be 1.51 mm by a parallel-line-source phantom with Rayleigh criterion. Reconstructed images made from tissue-mimicking gel phantoms, as well as animal tissue samples, were consistent with the morphological structures of the samples. The electrical conductivity value of the samples was determined directly by a calibrated four-electrode system. It has been demonstrated that MAT-MI is able to image the electrical impedance properties of biological tissues with better than 2 mm spatial resolution. These results suggest the potential of MAT-MI for application to early detection of small-size diseased tissues (e.g. small breast cancer).     

剪切波弹性成像对乳腺原位癌的诊断价值分析

目的:探讨剪切波弹性成像(SWE)对乳腺原位癌的诊断价值。方法:回顾性分析2015年8月-2017年8月于我院病理证实的26个乳腺原位癌病灶和45个乳腺良性病灶,术前均分别行常规超声检查和SWE检查。比较两组病灶的弹性模量值差异,两种检查方法诊断敏感度、特异度、准确度、阳性预测值、阴性预测值,并构建受试者操作特征(ROC)曲线,分析SWE对乳腺原位癌的诊断价值。结果:乳腺原位癌病灶的弹性模量最大值、平均值、最小值和与脂肪组织弹性比值分别为86.6±26.7 kpa、56.6±21.4kpa、31.3±15.7 kpa、6.7±1.8,均明显高于乳腺良性病灶(P0.05)。SWE诊断敏感度、特异度、准确度、阳性预测值、阴性预测值分别为92.31%、88.89%、90.14%、82.76%、95.23%,均显著高于常规超声成像(P0.05)。弹性模量最大值、平均值、最小值及与脂肪组织弹性比值评价乳腺原位癌的ROC曲线下面积分别为0.944、0.876、0.818、0.956。结论:乳腺原位癌病灶的弹性模量值高于良性病灶,SWE对早期发现乳腺原位癌具有重要价值。     

Medical ultrasound imaging

The paper gives an introduction to current medical ultrasound imaging systems. The basics of anatomic and blood flow imaging are described. The properties of medical ultrasound and its focusing are described, and the various methods for two- and three-dimensional imaging of the human anatomy are shown. Systems using both linear and non-linear propagation of ultrasound are described. The blood velocity can also be non-invasively visualized using ultrasound and the basic signal processing for doing this is introduced. Examples for spectral velocity estimation, color flow imaging and the new vector velocity images are presented.