Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Lab Invest 2021 Jun 11. Epub 2021 Jun 11.

School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.

Microcalcifications are early markers of breast cancer and can provide valuable prognostic information to support clinical decision-making. Current detection of calcifications in breast tissue is based on X-ray mammography, which involves the use of ionizing radiation with potentially detrimental effects, or MRI scans, which have limited spatial resolution. Additionally, these techniques are not capable of discriminating between microcalcifications from benign and malignant lesions. Read More

Eur J Radiol 2021 May 5:109753. Epub 2021 May 5.

Section for Breast Cancer Screening, Cancer Registry of Norway, Oslo, Norway; Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address:

Purpose: To compare the distribution of mammographic features among women recalled for further assessment after screening with digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) versus digital mammography (DM), and to assess associations between features and final outcome of the screening, including immunohistochemical subtypes of the tumour.

Methods: This randomized controlled trial was performed in Bergen, Norway, and included 28,749 women, of which 1015 were recalled due to mammographic findings. Mammographic features were classified according to a modified BI-RADS-scale. Read More

J Med Imaging (Bellingham) 2021 May 13;8(3):033501. Epub 2021 May 13.

Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States.

: Deep convolutional neural networks (CNN) have demonstrated impressive success in various image classification tasks. We investigated the use of CNNs to distinguish between benign and malignant microcalcifications, using either conventional or dual-energy mammography x-ray images. The two kinds of calcifications, known as type-I (calcium oxalate crystals) and type-II (calcium phosphate aggregations), have different attenuation properties in the mammographic energy range. Read More

Int J Surg Pathol 2021 May 3:10668969211016053. Epub 2021 May 3.

24575University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA.

Breast amyloidosis is a rare condition which is mostly associated with hematological disorders or hereditary genetic disorders. Imaging findings of breast amyloidosis can mimic malignancy, which often leads to biopsy or excision of the lesion. Here, we presented a case of localized lactotransferrin-related breast amyloidosis in an elderly female patient. Read More

Breast J 2021 Apr 29. Epub 2021 Apr 29.

Department of Radiology, Albert Schweitzer Ziekenhuis, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.

Plast Reconstr Surg 2021 May;147(5S):44S-50S

From the Department of Plastic Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University-Inova Branch, National Center for Plastic Surgery.

Summary: Current controversies surrounding breast implants are focused not only on the implant but also on the capsule. There has been tremendous discussion regarding how much of the capsule, if any, should be removed during explantation for benign conditions. The appearance of benign capsules is highly variable ranging from a thin membrane to densely fibrotic with calcifications. Read More

Front Oncol 2020 31;10:609841. Epub 2021 Mar 31.

Department of Ultrasonography, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.

Background: The rate of carcinoma upgrade for atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) diagnosed on core needle biopsy (CNB) is variable on open excision. The purpose of the present study was to develop and validate a simple-to-use nomogram for predicting the upgrade of ADH diagnosed with ultrasound (US)-guided core needle biopsy in patients with US-detected breast lesions.

Methods: Two retrospective sets, the training set ( = 401) and the validation set ( = 186), from Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center between January 2014 and December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Read More

AJR Am J Roentgenol 2021 06 14;216(6):1476-1485. Epub 2021 Apr 14.

Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 1365-C Clifton Rd NE, Ste C-1104, Atlanta, GA 30322.

The purpose of our study was to evaluate the upgrade rate of calcified lobular neoplasia (LN) versus incidental noncalcified classic LN found on core needle biopsy performed for the evaluation of suspicious calcifications. This retrospective study included 390 consecutive image-guided breast core needle biopsies with microcalcifications as the target that were performed between December 2009 and July 2017. In 81 of the 390 core biopsies, the highest-risk lesion was LN that then underwent either excision or imaging follow-up. Read More

Radiol Case Rep 2021 Jun 8;16(6):1489-1492. Epub 2021 Apr 8.

Department of Radiology, University of Kentucky School of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.

We describe the case of a 65-year-old female with a history of left-sided ductal carcinoma in situ in 2008. Mammography in January 2020 demonstrated calcifications in the previously affected breast. Subsequent stereotactic biopsy results were benign. Read More

Anal Chem 2021 04 7;93(15):6223-6231. Epub 2021 Apr 7.

State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics and Department of Physics, Human Phenome Institute, Multiscale Research Institute of Complex Systems, Academy for Engineering and Technology, Key Laboratory of Micro and Nano Photonic Structures, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China.

Precise evaluation of breast tumor malignancy based on tissue calcifications has important practical value in the disease diagnosis, as well as the understanding of tumor development. Traditional X-ray mammography provides the overall morphologies of the calcifications but lacks intrinsic chemical information. In contrast, spontaneous Raman spectroscopy offers detailed chemical analysis but lacks the spatial profiles. Read More

J Breast Cancer 2021 Apr 8;24(2):229-234. Epub 2021 Feb 8.

Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, USA.

Unusual or prominent calcifications found on screening mammography may prompt additional radiologic and clinical work-up given the possible association with pre-malignant lesions, other high-risk lesions, or malignancies. Osseous metaplasia (OM) of the breast, also referred to as metaplastic ossification or heterotopic bone formation, is an uncommon finding that may present as radiographic calcification. There are isolated case reports of OM associated with benign or malignant tumors of the breast, as well as with a variety of non-neoplastic conditions. Read More

Radiology 2021 Jun 30;299(3):550-558. Epub 2021 Mar 30.

From the Department of Radiology, New York University Langone Medical Center, 765 Stewart Ave, Garden City, NY 11530 (C.S.L.); Departments of Computational and Systems Biology (J.M.B.) and Radiology (W.A.B.), University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pa; and Magee-Womens Hospital of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pa (W.A.B.).

Background Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) category 3 (BR3) (probably benign) mammographic assessments are reserved for imaging findings known to have likelihood of malignancy of 2% or less. Purpose To determine the effect of age, finding type, and prior mammography on cancer yield for BR3 findings in the National Mammography Database (NMD). Materials and Methods This HIPAA-compliant retrospective cohort institutional review board-exempt study evaluated women recalled from screening mammography followed by BR3 assessment at diagnostic evaluation from January 2009 to March 2018 and from 471 NMD facilities. Read More

Gynecol Obstet Fertil Senol 2021 May 20;49(5):485-492. Epub 2021 Mar 20.

CHRU, Hôpitaux universitaires de Strasbourg, 1, place de l'hôpital, 67091 Strasbourg, France; Unité d'imagerie mammaire, Institut de cancérologie Strasbourg Europe (ICANS), 17, rue Albert-Calmette. 67033 Strasbourg cedex, France.

Objective: The objective was to evaluate the diagnostic value of clinical examination and complementary imaging in the exploration of a breast lump or microcalcifications occurring in a postmenopausal woman taking hormonal replacement therapy (HRT), based on a systematic review of the literature in order to make recommendations for HRT management.

Methods: A literature review was conducted using Medline, Cochrane Library data and international recommendations in French and English until 2020.

Results: In the presence of a clinical breast mass in postmenopausal women, there is no clinical evidence to rule out cancer. Read More

PLoS One 2021 23;16(3):e0248930. Epub 2021 Mar 23.

IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain.

Background: Several studies have proposed personalized strategies based on women's individual breast cancer risk to improve the effectiveness of breast cancer screening. We designed and internally validated an individualized risk prediction model for women eligible for mammography screening.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study of 121,969 women aged 50 to 69 years, screened at the long-standing population-based screening program in Spain between 1995 and 2015 and followed up until 2017. Read More

Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2021 Jul 22;95(1):47-57. Epub 2021 Mar 22.

Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.

Objective: To describe the presentation and outcomes of patients with adrenal ganglioneuromas (AGNs).

Design: Single-centre retrospective cohort study (1 January 1995 to 31 December 2019) and systematic review of literature (1 January 1980 to 19 November 2019).

Patients: Diagnosed with histologically confirmed AGN. Read More

Cureus 2021 Jan 10;13(1):e12611. Epub 2021 Jan 10.

Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, IND.

Fibroadenoma (FA) is a benign, painless, solid breast tumor that commonly occurs in young adult females. The term complex FA is used when it is associated with any of the following: cyst >3 mm, epithelial calcifications, sclerosing adenosis, or papillary apocrine metaplasia. FAs of size more than 5 cm or weighing more than 500 g are considered as giant FAs. Read More

Front Oncol 2020 19;10:587422. Epub 2021 Jan 19.

Department of Medical Ultrasound, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.

Background: To determine a correlation between mRNA and lncRNA signatures, sonographic features, and risk of recurrence in triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data from 114 TNBC patients having undergone transcriptome analysis. The risk of tumor recurrence was determined based on the correlation between transcriptome profiles and recurrence-free survival. Read More

Clin Imaging 2021 Jul 20;75:16-21. Epub 2021 Jan 20.

University of California, San Francisco, Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, 1825 4(th) St L3185, San Francisco, CA 94158, United States of America. Electronic address:

Objective: The objective of our study was to determine whether, in the digital era, imaging features of a primary breast tumor can be used to influence the decision to biopsy ipsilateral breast calcifications that occur following surgery in women treated with breast conservation surgery (BCS).

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively identified women treated with BCS who subsequently developed suspicious calcifications in the treated breast (BI-RADS 4 or 5) from January 2012 - December 2018. Only cases with histopathological diagnosis by stereotactic or surgical biopsy were included. Read More

Clin Imaging 2021 Jun 12;74:76-83. Epub 2021 Jan 12.

Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil.

Introduction: Mammography remains the standard imaging modality for the identification and characterization of breast calcifications. However, its low specificity results in high biopsy rates in cases of suspicious calcifications.

Objectives: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of MRI as an additional tool in the assessment of suspicious mammographic calcifications and to identify the enhancement patterns most related to malignancy. Read More

Sci Rep 2021 01 8;11(1):129. Epub 2021 Jan 8.

Department of Biomedical Imaging, University of Malaya Research Imaging Centre, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of digital breast tomosynthesis-guided vacuum assisted breast biopsy (DBT-VABB) of screening detected suspicious mammographic abnormalities comprising of calcifications, asymmetric densities, architectural distortions and spiculated masses. In this institutionally approved study, a total of 170 (n = 170) DBT-VABB were performed, 153 (90%) were for calcifications, 8 (4.7%) for spiculated mass, 5 (2. Read More

Cancer Manag Res 2020 18;12:13015-13021. Epub 2020 Dec 18.

Department of Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, People's Republic of China.

Metastasis of ovarian cancer to breast (MOCB) is rare, and the diagnosis is difficult due to the varied imaging manifestations. The objective of this paper is to report a special case of MOCB, review the imaging manifestations of MOCB and attempt to determine the characteristic imaging features that might be helpful in making the diagnosis and providing appropriate systemic therapy. A 40-year-old woman presented with a breast lesion six years after a diagnosis of ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2020 Dec 24;22(1). Epub 2020 Dec 24.

Department of Experimental Medicine, University "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy.

The presence of calcium deposits in human lesions is largely used as imaging biomarkers of human diseases such as breast cancer. Indeed, the presence of micro- or macrocalcifications is frequently associated with the development of both benign and malignant lesions. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms involved in the formation of these calcium deposits, as well as the prognostic significance of their presence in human tissues, have not been completely elucidated. Read More

Clin Breast Cancer 2020 Nov 2. Epub 2020 Nov 2.

Department of Radiology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Beijing, China. Electronic address:

Background: Contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM) is a novel breast imaging technique that can provide additional information of breast tissue blood supply. This study aimed to test the possibility of CEM in improving the diagnostic accuracy of Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) 4 calcification-only lesions with consideration of morphology and distribution.

Patients And Methods: Data of patients with suspicious malignant calcification-only lesions (BI-RADS 4) on low-energy CEM and proved pathologic diagnoses were retrospectively collected. Read More

Gland Surg 2020 Oct;9(5):1258-1266

Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.

Background: Vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (VABB) has been routinely recommended for stereotactic intervention in cases of isolate mammographically-detected calcifications. Herein we aimed to evaluate and compare the diagnostic consistency and accuracy of calcified and noncalcified specimens obtained from same sites of sampling on mammography-visible calcifications. In addition, we presented the biopsy procedure and retrospectively evaluated the usefulness of VABB as well as the complications of this technique over an eight-year experience in our centre. Read More

AJR Am J Roentgenol 2021 01 10;216(1):48-56. Epub 2020 Nov 10.

Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, MC 8896, Dallas, TX 75390-8896, Dallas, TX 75390-8896.

Objective: Both benign and malignant causes of calcifications in the nipple-areolar complex exist. BI-RADS terminology applies to the description and classification of nipple-areolar calcifications in the same way it does to calcifications elsewhere in the breast. Minimally invasive sampling can be performed safely and accurately with ultrasound-guided techniques, with a few technical modifications. Read More

Eur J Radiol 2020 Dec 26;133:109365. Epub 2020 Oct 26.

The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Department of Radiology, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, Texas 75390 USA. Electronic address:

Purpose: To compare the outcomes of microcalcifications recalled on full-field digital (FFDM) and FFDM and combined tomosynthesis (Combo) to synthetic (SM) screening mammograms.

Method: We reviewed medical records, radiology, and pathology reports of all patients found to have abnormal calcifications requiring further evaluation on mammography screening at our institution between 11/1/2016-11/1/2018 and collected patient demographics, calcification morphology and distribution, and mammography technique (SM, FFDM, or Combo). We used biopsy pathology or at least 1-year imaging follow-up to establish overall diagnostic outcome (benign or malignant). Read More

Ultrasound Med Biol 2021 Jan 21;47(1):95-103. Epub 2020 Oct 21.

Department of Radiology and Center for Imaging Science, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of calcifications on shear-wave elastography in evaluating breast lesions. We retrospectively reviewed ultrasound images of 673 breast lesions and compared the elasticity between lesions with and without calcifications in three subgroups: benign lesions, in situ carcinomas and invasive carcinomas. Breast lesions were confirmed histologically (n = 401) or by follow-up images for more than 2 y (n = 272). Read More

Clin Radiol 2021 Mar 17;76(3):172-184. Epub 2020 Oct 17.

Department of Radiology, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, 234 Goodman Street, ML 0772, Cincinnati, OH, 45219-0772, USA.

The nipple-areolar complex can be affected by a variety of benign and malignant entities that can present with non-specific symptoms. Benign pathologies commonly affecting the nipple-areolar complex include nipple calcifications, nipple adenoma, abscess of Montgomery tubercles, ductal ectasia, periductal mastitis, and papilloma. Malignant pathologies that affect the nipple-areolar complex include Paget's disease of the breast, ductal carcinoma in-situ, and invasive ductal carcinoma. Read More

Diagnostics (Basel) 2020 Oct 15;10(10). Epub 2020 Oct 15.

Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (DETO), Pathology Section, Breast Unit Care, University of Bari, Medical School, 70124 Bari, Italy.

The breast phyllodes tumor is a biphasic tumor that accounts for less than of 1% of all breast neoplasms. It is classified as benign, borderline, or malignant, and can mimic benign masses. Some recurrent alterations have been identified. Read More

Eur J Radiol 2020 Nov 28;132:109309. Epub 2020 Sep 28.

Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Vienna General Hospital, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria. Electronic address:

Objectives: To investigate whether combined texture analysis and machine learning can distinguish malignant from benign suspicious mammographic calcifications, to find an exploratory rule-out criterion to potentially avoid unnecessary benign biopsies.

Methods: Magnification views of 235 patients which underwent vacuum-assisted biopsy of suspicious calcifications (BI-RADS 4) during a two-year period were retrospectively analyzed using the texture analysis tool MaZda (Version 4.6). Read More