Special Issue “Recent Advances in Breast Imaging”

.The editorial introduces the JMI Special Issue on Advances in Breast Imaging.

Radiographic and special studies: recent advances in imaging of the elbow

Breast imaging technology is advancing on several fronts. In digital mammography, the major technological trend has been on optimization of approaches for performing combined mammography and tomosynthesis using the same system. In parallel, photon‐counting slot‐scan mammography is now in clinical use and more efforts are directed towards further development of this approach for spectral imaging. Spectral imaging refers to simultaneous acquisition of two or more energy‐windowed images. Depending on the detector and associated electronics, there are a number of ways this can be accomplished. Spectral mammography using photon‐counting detectors can suppress electronic noise and importantly, it enables decomposition of the image into various material compositions of interest facilitating quantitative imaging. Spectral imaging can be particularly important in intravenously injected contrast mammography and eventually tomosynthesis. The various approaches and applications of spectral mammography are discussed.Digital breast tomosynthesis relies on the mechanical movement of the x‐ray tube to acquire a number of projections in a predefined arc, typically from 9 to 25 projections over a scan angle of +/−7.5 to 25 degrees depending on the particular system. The mechanical x‐ray tube motion requires relatively long acquisition time, typically between 3.7 to 25 seconds depending on the system. Moreover, mechanical scanning may have an effect on the spatial resolution due to internal x‐ray filament or external mechanical vibrations. New x‐ray source arrays have been developed and they are aimed at replacing the scanned x‐ray tube for improved acquisition time and potentially for higher spatial resolution. The potential advantages and challenges of this approach are described.Combination of digital mammography and tomosynthesis in a single system places increased demands on certain functional aspects of the detector and overall performance, particularly in the tomosynthesis mode due to lower photon fluence per projection. This may require fast‐frame acquisition and symmetric or asymmetric pixel binning in some systems. Recent studies investigated the performance of increased conversion layer thickness for contrast‐enhanced imaging of the breast in dual‐energy acquisition mode. In other direct conversion detectors operating in the avalanche mode, sensitivities close to the single photon response are also explored for mammography and breast tomosynthesis. The potential advantages and challenges of this approach are described.Dedicated breast CT brings x‐ray imaging of the breast to true tomographic 3D imaging. It can eliminate the tissue superposition problem and does not require physical compression of the breast. Using cone beam geometry and a flat‐panel detector, several hundred projections are acquired and reconstructed to near isotropic voxels. Multiplanar reconstruction facilitates viewing the breast volume in any desired orientation. Ongoing clinical studies, the current state‐of‐the art, and research to advance the technology are described.Learning Objectives: To understand the ongoing developments in x‐ray imaging of the breast To understand the approaches and applications of spectral mammography To understand the potential advantages of distributed x‐ray source arrays for digital breast tomosynthesis To understand the ongoing developments in detector technology for digital mammography and breast tomosynthesis To understand the current state‐of‐the‐art for dedicated cone‐beam breast CT and research to advance the technology. Research collaboration with Koning Corporation.

Abstract: Breast cancer has received remarkable attention at the global level, and as a result, substantial progress has been made over the past several years in the diagnosis and management of this disease. Emphasis on breast cancer screening and advances in breast imaging have led to increased early breast cancer detection. Minimally invasive sampling procedures such as fine needle aspiration biopsy and core needle biopsy have almost replaced open surgical biopsy. Breast conserving therapy and sentinel lymph node biopsy have become attractive alternatives to mastectomy and total axillary dissection. Advances in molecular diagnostics and targeted therapies have opened more effective options for individualised breast cancer therapy. In addition, discovery of breast cancer genes and recognition of breast cancer risk factors have provided opportunities for introducing various risk reduction modalities. Similarly, enhanced public awareness and the efforts of patient advocates have resulted in increased funding for breast cancer research. More importantly, integrated breast cancer care via a multidisciplinary approach has provided the foundation for the establishment of breast centres around the globe. The above-mentioned efforts have been complemented by the role that pathologists have played in the realization of these advancements. Pathologists have been central in the development, validation, implementation, and appropriateness of providing diagnostic and predictive/prognostic information. Throughout the years, pathologists have evolved from being a morphologist into becoming clinicians/scientists with in-depth understanding of integrated breast cancer care, research, and education. Currently, pathologists make the ultimate determination about the nature of a disease and help design the course of therapy for individualized patients.

Currently, more than 20 % of breast cancers diagnosed in the USA are ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS; Brinton et al., J Natl Cancer Inst 100:1643–1648, 2008; DeSantis et al., CA Cancer J Clin 64:52–62, 2014; Ernster et al., J Natl Cancer Inst 94:1546–1554, 2002). Early detection and a low breast-cancer-specific mortality (1–2 %; Ernster et al., Arch Intern Med 160:953–958, 2000) have resulted in an increasing number of patients that require clinical follow-up and imaging surveillance after treatment for DCIS. As this population continues to grow, clinical evaluation and management patterns are also evolving, including advances in breast imaging, surgery with or without reconstruction, radiation therapy, and systemic therapies. Clinicians must determine long-term follow-up for patients that have taken a variety of pathways to survivorship. As treatment patterns become more individualized for tumor biology and patient preference, surveillance practices must also evolve and be tailored appropriately for survivorship programs. In this chapter, we review the current guidelines for surveillance after treatment for DCIS and discuss a practical application of these guidelines for a spectrum of DCIS survivors.

Introduction to the special issue of “Advances in Molecular Imaging”

No abstract is available for this article.

Wheat and barley biology: Towards new frontiers.

Filtering the good from the bad: A focus on kidney development and disease to celebrate John Bertram's long‐standing career in anatomy and renal research

Beyond the Immune System: The Role of Resident Cells in Asthma and COPD

Time-domain imaging, which includes prestack time migration, as well as normal moveout, offset continuation, and stacking, is a workhorse of seismic data processing. Although time-domain imaging technology has been commodified and almost fallen off the radar of seismic imaging research, opportunities for advancing this technology have not been exhausted yet. Recent advances in velocity-independent imaging, time-to-depth conversion, and wave-equation time migration reveal new opportunities for fundamental breakthrough improvements.

Diagnosing poststernotomy mediastinitis in the ED

Determinants of Anterior Chamber Depth: The Singapore Chinese Eye Study

Plant-microbe interactions are of rising interest in plant sustainability, biomass production, plant biology, and systems biology. These interactions have been a challenge to detect until recent advancements in mass spectrometry imaging. Plants and microbes interact in four main regions within the plant, the rhizosphere, endosphere, phyllosphere, and spermosphere. This mini review covers the challenges within investigations of plant and microbe interactions. We highlight the importance of sample preparation and comparisons among time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy (ToF-SIMS), matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI), laser desorption ionization (LDI/LDPI), and desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) techniques used for the analysis of these interactions. Using mass spectral imaging (MSI) to study plants and microbes offers advantages in understanding microbe and host interactions at the molecular level with single-cell and community communication information. More research utilizing MSI has emerged in the past several years. We first introduce the principles of major MSI techniques that have been employed in the research of microorganisms. An overview of proper sample preparation methods is offered as a prerequisite for successful MSI analysis. Traditionally, dried or cryogenically prepared, frozen samples have been used; however, they do not provide a true representation of the bacterial biofilms compared to living cell analysis and chemical imaging. New developments such as microfluidic devices that can be used under a vacuum are highly desirable for the application of MSI techniques, such as ToF-SIMS, because they have a subcellular spatial resolution to map and image plant and microbe interactions, including the potential to elucidate metabolic pathways and cell-to-cell interactions. Promising results due to recent MSI advancements in the past five years are selected and highlighted. The latest developments utilizing machine learning are captured as an important outlook for maximal output using MSI to study microorganisms.

Abstract. The Roshan represents one of the most characteristic aspects of traditional architecture in Hejaz (Saudi Arabia) and a frequent feature in most of the Historical Jeddah's heritage buildings. The old city has witnessed continued degradation recently, which has caused the loss its traditional architecture and hundreds of these projected wooden windows. Documentation is a major step towards heritage preservation, whether threatened by man-made or natural factors. However, due to the absence of specialists and experts an architectural database of the Roshans does not exist. Surveying these architectural elements is a very laborious and difficult process when using conventional methodologies including the laser sensors approach mainly due to the onsite limitations. Establishing an architectural database of the Roshans is the main objective in this research paper, based on the continuous development of data capture and modelling methodologies that allows the accurate recording of even the most complex and intricate details and patterns which are typically found in Roshans. Recent advances in image based techniques (digital close-range photogrammetry and computer vision) such as the semi-automated solutions of Dense Stereo Matching (DSM) and 3D modelling software has offered an accurate, inexpensive and practical solution to surveying, documenting and reconstructing these architectural heritage features. In this paper the application of these methods is tested and evaluated on the Roshans in the old city of Jeddah.