Friday 30 November 2007

RSNA Breast Interventional Papers 2

More interventional papers given on Wednesday morning -

  1. Is surgical excision of core biopsy proven benign papillomas necessary? (Durham, NC) - close imaging FU is all they do in their practice.
  2. Underestimation of papillary lesions by core: correlation with surgical excision ( Scottsville, NY) - 6% underestimate by core. 91% of lesions were identified as atypical
  3. Follow-up rather than excision for papillary lesions with VAB (Philadelphia, PA) - 11g VAB can be safely followed rather than having surgical excision
  4. How many calcs for diagnosis in VAB for non-mass calcifications? (Korea) - 6 or more cores should be obtained
  5. Impact of 10g Vacora and 9G Suros ATEC biopsy for MRI guided biopsy (Bonn, Germany) - Lesions sampled at VAB reduced the chances of localisation biopsy
  6. 8G vs 11G needle diagnostic accuracy for stereo cores (Boston, MA) - improvement of over 90% by using 8G for calcs
  7. False -ve rate for 14G core biopsy (Korea) - accurate method for diagnosing cancer
  8. Clip displacement following VAB, comparison of conventional and gel markers(Vienna, Austria) - SenoRX clips cw Micromark clips. Displacement of up to 20mm with conventional clips. Conventional clips should no longer be used.
  9. Diagnostic accuracy of 14G core biopsy for Phyllodes tumours (Korea) - tendency to UNDERSAMPLE.

RSNA Mixed Papers

  1. Comparison of Mammo, US and MRI in evaluation of DCIS extent (Korea) - MRI better correlate with pathology
  2. Correlation between Mammo and US findings of node -ve IDC (Korea) - HER2 +ve correlated with segmental microcalcs with a mass on US
  3. Performance of electrical impedance device to detect cancer in women (Charleston) - HEDA breast scan has a better diagnostic accuracy for breast cancer detection than mammography in women under 50 yrs and small breasts, but no difference with normal sized breasts.

Thursday 29 November 2007

RSNA DIGITAL MAMMOGRAPHY Papers

  1. Adding tomosynthesis to FFDM reduces callbacks by 43%, regardless of breast density (Boston)
  2. Comparison of Tomosynthesis and FFDM in an OP symptomatic setting (Amsterdam) - No differences found between the 2 techniques in their population
  3. Tomosynthesis vs conventional: comparison of breast mass detection and characterisation (Ann Arbor) - More masses detected by tomosynthesis. Better margin assessment but same malignancy rating
  4. Comparison of FDDM and SFM within a population based UK screening programme (Barts, London) - Similar recall rates, cancer detection and PPV. FFDM detects larger invasive tumours in the 50-60 age group
  5. Digital monitor zooming vs magnificaton FFDM ( Korea) - Better quality of image and increased confidence of diagnosis of radiologists when using magnification rather than simple magnification
  6. Improved diagnostic accuracy with contrast enhanced FFDM (Berlin)
  7. Technical recall rates FFDM vs SFM (Houston) - digital significantly LOWER TR rate regardless of whether there were prior mammograms available

RSNA Breast Interventional Papers

  1. Axillary US in SLNB (Korea) - including US localisation to prevent technical failure of SLNB or false -ve when tumour filed with malignancy
  2. Radiofrequency ablation of breast cancer and assessment of ablation zone (Glasgow) - Safe and effective in achieving cell death with CE US to assess immediate response
  3. Cryoablation vs radiofrequency ablation of small breast cancer: measurement with 3T MRI imaging ( Rome) - US guided ablation feasible and reliable. CE MRI ideal method to quantify procedure efficacy
  4. US mammotome excision of low risk benign lesions (Korea) - can replace surgical excision for low risk benign lesions
  5. US mammotome excision of benign intraduct mass for treatment of nipple discharge (Korea)
  6. US mammotome excision of benign papillary masses (Korea) - to preclude surgical biopsy

Wednesday 28 November 2007

RSNA HIGH RISK SCREENING SESSION

Wendy Berg presented 2 papers with the early results of the ACRIN 6666 trial
When added to mammography in the high risk setting, the diagnostic sensitivity of screening increases. The second paper showed the serious downside with a large proportion of false positive screens with additional unnecessary biopsies.

Increased workload/demand for breast MRI as a result of the 2007 American Cancer Society guidelines on screening high risk women, similar to the October 2006 UK NICE guidelines
It was shown that in the USA, current units could theoretically cope with the increased numbers of screening examinations 2-3 per week, without additional investment.

Tuesday 27 November 2007

Nick Perry hits the news

Nick managed to cause a few headlines yesterday with the presentation of data from the Princess Grace Hospital, showing that women in the city have denser breasts than outside of London.

Thanks to the RSNA press releases, it hit the BBC

So NOT relevant that this was a selected population with a higher use of hormones then??
Would be interesting to do the same thing with the Bart's population

Sunday 25 November 2007

Breast MRI Papers

Today in the Arie Crown Theater, there were some interesting papers on -
  1. Review of false negative cases (small size and masking with enhancing parenchyma - Chicago)
  2. Despite the use of pre-op MRI, no increase in Mastectomy conversion rate (San Diego)
  3. MR CAD - great for IDC but only 50% for DCIS (Toronto)
  4. Small cancers (<5mm)>
  5. Kinetics good for mass enhancement BUT NOT non-mass like enhancement (Chicago)
  6. Value of MRI in work up of lobular Ca (Nice)
  7. MR in occult metastatic malignancy - neg exam means treat axilla only (Milan)
  8. MR Galactography - initial experience (Erlangen)

RSNA STARTS TODAY



First day at RSNA today. Some breast MRI papers and the film interpretation session.
Hot topics to follow in later posts

Wednesday 21 November 2007

Sentinelle MR Breast Biopsy Table



Interesting day looking at the Sentinelle breast biopsy for MR.
Their Vanguard table is installed in the UCSF breast center MRI facility at Mount Zion.
The software they use to analyze and target lesions to biopsy is called Aegis, and is a very simple system to use.

The table is able to support the patient in a comfortable position with arms down by her side for the scan and biopsy. The table can also be moved out of the MR room to a separate biopsy room, so that the MR can continue being used, compared with other types of biopsy which require the patient to remain in close proximity to the magnet. Looking forward to using and developing biopsy with this table

Monday 19 November 2007

BACK TO FRONT FILMS AND BIRADS

One of the hardest aspects of reporting in the USA is reading mammograms the opposite way to having the patient facing you. Of the centers I have visited in the USA, some view films the 'right' way around, and some (including UCSF) read back to front!

When reporting in UCSF however, a score is given for breast density followed by a score for each breast in turn, starting with the right, then the left, followed by an overall BIRADS score. The films have been read by the residents, before the 'attending' does a readout - essentially dictating the result. In San Francisco, there is a database started by Ed Sickles, which is what the residents use to enter the data, and a patient report is generated.

I wonder how long it will take to adjust to reporting films in mirror image configuration

Sunday 18 November 2007

My new office


Well, after attending a research meeting and getting my UCSF ID badge from the Police Department, I was awaiting my office to be allocated, but there is a shortage of space. As a result, a quick trip to Sausalito was called for, and a lovely lunch was taken overlooking the bay.

The IT guys are meeting with me Monday to explain the choice of computer for my office - I think I need a quad core Mac Pro with 30 inch display, as I use OSIRIX as a DICOM workstation for mammography.

Saturday 17 November 2007

It's tea Jim, but not as we know it


My first week in San Francisco has been different to what I expected. The flight from Heathrow was delayed arriving due to strong headwinds, but the process through immigration was far easier than previously. The border guard was very pleasant, and took us through the paperwork for the I-94 that we had to complete when entering the country with an H1B visa.

Once we arrived at our rented apartment, and we had settled in, sleep took over. The great thing is that there is a Safeway across the road, so it was easy in the morning to get the essentials needed for breakfast, especially as the store opens at 5AM!!!. (see photo above - shot from the apartment)

I bought some Twinings Tea Bags, expecting them to be similar to home, but the whole taste thing was just so insipid!!! I have had that problem with Lipton's tea before, but never with 'British' teas. Oh well. Now I know why I used to take PG tips from Sainburys or Tescos to our vacation home in Florida. Obviously a job for the next trip home.