The ethics of uncertainty for data subjects

Modern health data practices come with many practical uncertainties. In this paper, I argue that data subjects’ trust in the institutions and organizations that control their data, and their ability to know their own moral obligations in relation to their data, are undermined by significant uncertainties regarding the what, how, and who of mass data collection and analysis. I conclude by considering how proposals for managing situations of high uncertainty might be applied to this problem. These emphasize increasing organizational flexibility, knowledge, and capacity, and reducing hazard

A woman living with osteoarthritis: A case report

Osteoarthritis is a common condition that is typically associated with older adults. Other causes of osteoarthritis, such as those cases resulting from childhood Perthes disease, can affect younger people and frequently have a major impact on the lives of those affected. This case report describes the experiences of one patient with osteoarthritis, using examples of her poetry to illustrate her social, psychological and emotional transformation

The Effect Of Introduced Trout On Native, Non-Game Fish In The Watauga River, NC

Non-native trout are stocked around the world, including in the United States. The effect of these introductions on native fish populations is, however, understudied. Introduced trout have the potential to negatively affect native fish populations through consumption, competition or by causing behavioral avoidance resulting in changes in habitat use. I conducted a study in the Watauga River, NC to assess the impacts of delayed harvest trout stocking on the non-game fish community

Contrast-enhanced spectral mammography: what is the 'added value' in a symptomatic setting? Initial findings from a UK centre

Contrast-enhanced spectral mammography (CESM) is a new technology. Dual energy acquisitions during one exposure yield two sets of images: a low energy (LE) set, equivalent to standard full field digital mammography (FFDM); and a recombined set displaying contrast uptake. In our symptomatic breast service, specific patients, including those with a P4/5 clinical abnormality are offered CESM instead of FFDM. Despite encouraging data from Europe and the USA, there are, until now, no UK data to support its use in this setting

Contrast-enhanced spectral mammography improves diagnostic accuracy in the symptomatic setting

Aim. To assess the diagnostic accuracy of Contrast Enhanced Spectral Mammography (CESM), and gauge its “added value” in the symptomatic setting. Methods. At our institution, women aged 35-70 years with a suspicious or malignant clinical abnormality are offered CESM instead of standard Full-Field Digital Mammography (FFDM) as an initial imaging test. CESM is also offered to younger women whose ultrasound is suspicious, or who have biopsy-proven malignancy. It is occasionally used as an alternative to breast MRI following multi-disciplinary team discussion. We performed a retrospective multi-reader review of 100 consecutive CESM examinations. Anonymised Low Energy (LE) images were reviewed and given a score for malignancy. At least 3 weeks later, the entire examination (LE and recombined images) was reviewed. Pathology data was obtained for all cases. Differences in performance were assessed using receiver operative characteristic (ROC) analysis. Sensitivity, specificity and lesion size (vs MRI or histopathology) differences were calculated. Results. 73% cases were malignant at final histology, 27% were benign following standard triple assessment. ROC analysis showed improved overall performance of CESM over LE alone, with area under the curve of 93% vs 83% (p<0.025). CESM showed increased sensitivity (95% vs 84, p<0.025) and specificity (81% vs 63%, p<0.025) compared to LE alone, with all 5 readers showing improved accuracy. Tumour size estimation at CESM was significantly more accurate than LE alone, the latter tending to undersize lesions. In 75% of cases CESM was deemed a useful or significant aid to diagnosis. Conclusion. CESM provides immediately available, clinically useful information in the symptomatic clinic in patients with suspicious palpable abnormalities. Radiologist sensitivity, specificity and size accuracy for breast cancer detection and staging are all improved using CESM as the primary mammographic investigation

Accuracy of GE digital breast tomosynthesis vs supplementary mammographic views for diagnosis of screen-detected soft-tissue breast lesions

OBJECTIVE: To compare the accuracy of standard supplementary views and GE digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) for assessment of soft-tissue mammographic abnormalities., METHODS: Women recalled for further assessment of soft-tissue abnormalities were recruited and received standard supplementary views (typically spot compression views) and two-view GE DBT. The added value of DBT in the assessment process was determined by analysing data collected prospectively by radiologists working up the cases. Following anonymization of cases, there was also a retrospective multireader review. The readers first read bilateral standard two-view digital mammography (DM) together with the supplementary mammographic views and gave a combined score for suspicion of malignancy on a five-point scale. The same readers then read bilateral standard two-view DM together with two-view DBT. Pathology data were obtained. Differences were assessed using receiver operating characteristic analysis., RESULTS: The study population was 342 lesions in 322 patients. The final diagnosis was malignant in 113 cases (33%) and benign/normal in 229 cases (67%). In the prospective analysis, the performance of two-view DM plus DBT was at least equivalent to the performance of two-view DM and standard mammographic supplementary views-the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.946 and 0.922, respectively, which did not reach statistical significance. Similar results were obtained for the retrospective review-AUC was 0.900 (DBT) and 0.873 (supplementary views), which did not reach statistical significance., CONCLUSION: The accuracy of GE DBT in the assessment of screen detected soft-tissue abnormalities is equivalent to the use of standard supplementary mammographic views., ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: The vast majority of evidence relating to the use of DBT has been gathered from research using Hologic equipment. This study provides evidence for the use of the commercially available GE DBT system demonstrating that it is at least equivalent to supplementary mammographic views in the assessment of soft-tissue screen-detected abnormalities.https://doi.org/10.1259/bjr.2015073

Accuracy of GE digital breast tomosynthesis vs supplementary mammographic views for diagnosis of screen-detected soft-tissue breast lesions

Objective: To compare the accuracy of standard supplementary views and GE digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) for assessment of soft-tissue mammographic abnormalities. Methods: Women recalled for further assessment of soft-tissue abnormalities were recruited and received standard supplementary views (typically spot compression views) and two-view GE DBT. The added value of DBT in the assessment process was determined by analysing data collected prospectively by radiologists working up the cases. Following anonymization of cases, there was also a retrospective multireader review. The readers first read bilateral standard two-view digital mammography (DM) together with the supplementary mammographic views and gave a combined score for suspicion of malignancy on a five-point scale. The same readers then read bilateral standard two-view DM together with two-view DBT. Pathology data were obtained. Differences were assessed using receiver operating characteristic analysis. Results: The study population was 342 lesions in 322 patients. The final diagnosis was malignant in 113 cases (33%) and benign/normal in 229 cases (67%). In the prospective analysis, the performance of two-view DM plus DBT was at least equivalent to the performance of two-view DM and standard mammographic supplementary views—the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.946 and 0.922, respectively, which did not reach statistical significance. Similar results were obtained for the retrospective review—AUC was 0.900 (DBT) and 0.873 (supplementary views), which did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion: The accuracy of GE DBT in the assessment of screen detected soft-tissue abnormalities is equivalent to the use of standard supplementary mammographic views. Advances in knowledge: The vast majority of evidence relating to the use of DBT has been gathered from research using Hologic equipment. This study provides evidence for the use of the commercially available GE DBT system demonstrating that it is at least equivalent to supplementary mammographic views in the assessment of soft-tissue screen-detected abnormalities

Machine learning-based prediction of breast cancer growth rate in-vivo

BackgroundDetermining the rate of breast cancer (BC) growth in vivo, which can predict prognosis, has remained elusive despite its relevance for treatment, screening recommendations and medicolegal practice. We developed a model that predicts the rate of in vivo tumour growth using a unique study cohort of BC patients who had two serial mammograms wherein the tumour, visible in the diagnostic mammogram, was missed in the first screen.MethodsA serial mammography-derived in vivo growth rate (SM-INVIGOR) index was developed using tumour volumes from two serial mammograms and time interval between measurements. We then developed a machine learning-based surrogate model called Surr-INVIGOR using routinely assessed biomarkers to predict in vivo rate of tumour growth and extend the utility of this approach to a larger patient population. Surr-INVIGOR was validated using an independent cohort.ResultsSM-INVIGOR stratified discovery cohort patients into fast-growing versus slow-growing tumour subgroups, wherein patients with fast-growing tumours experienced poorer BC-specific survival. Our clinically relevant Surr-INVIGOR stratified tumours in the discovery cohort and was concordant with SM-INVIGOR. In the validation cohort, Surr-INVIGOR uncovered significant survival differences between patients with fast-growing and slow-growing tumours.ConclusionOur Surr-INVIGOR model predicts in vivo BC growth rate during the pre-diagnostic stage and offers several useful applications

ISARIC-COVID-19 dataset: A Prospective, Standardized, Global Dataset of Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19

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