Effectiveness of assigning BI-RADS category-3 to breast lesion with respect to follow-up

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of assigning BI-RADS category-3 to breast lesion with respect to follow-up.STUDY DESIGN: A cohort study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Radiology Department, the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from January 2002 to December 2004. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Women undergoing X-ray mammography and assigned BI-RADS category-3 and recommended short-term (6-monthly) follow-up were included. Out of these, 44 patients were lost to follow-up and were excluded from the study. The lesions that remained stable after short-term follow-up were recommended routine (annual) follow-up. Needle localization and open surgical biopsy was performed, if the lesion progressed or calcifications increased in number/size and/or on physician or patient preference. The effectiveness of this approach was analyzed by determining the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value for BI-RADS category-3. RESULTS: Of the 65 lesions, 55 remained stable. Of the remaining 10 lesions, two showed increase in number of microcalcification prompting biopsy. Both turned out to be ductal carcinoma in situ. Eight biopsies were performed on clinician or patient preference which turned out to be benign. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were 100%, 87%, 20% and 100% respectively. CONCLUSION: Assessment with short-interval mammographic follow-up is useful to confirm the nature of most non-palpable breast lesions considered probably benign and permits detection of a small number of breast cancers at an early stage. The local setup, patient compliance is a major limitation for performing a follow-up study, as the available numbers can have a profound effect on the determined accuracy value

Torsion of fallopian tube, fimbrial cyst

A case of fallopian tube fimbrial cyst torsion with haemorrhage is presented, occurring in a 37-year-old female who had tubal ligation 6 years back. She presented in emergency with acute abdomen. Initial assessment of ovarian cyst haemorrhage or torsion was made. Ultrasound showed cystic structures in left adnexa and complex cyst in right adnexa with suspicion of torsion. Laparoscopy was performed and bilateral fimbrial cysts in fallopian tubes were identified with torsion on right side, and a left ovarian haemorrhagic cyst, which was subsequently confirmed on histopathology. Although fallopian tube torsion of fimbrial cyst is rare, it should be considered in patients who had history of bilateral tubal ligation. Again it should also be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute abdomen in females

Malignant phyllodes tumour as an intracystic growth with osteosarcomatous differentiation

Phyllodes tumour is an uncommon fibro epithelial tumour of breast that often presents clinically as a rapidly enlarging lump. On mammography it appears as a soft tissue density well circumscribed mass. Ultrasound shows it to be a solid hypoechoic mass with small cystic spaces. A case of malignant phyllodes tumour with an atypical appearance of intracystic tumour on sonography is reported with pertinent imaging features and histopathological diagnostic criteria. The tumour had undergone osteosarcomatous differentiation

Percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) in the management of acute cholecystitis in high risk patients

OBJECTIVE: To determine the role of ultrasound-guided percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) regarding complications and outcome in the management of acute cholecystitis in patients high risk for surgery and anaesthesia and not responding to conservative management. STUDY DESIGN: Observational case series. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: The study was carried out at The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from January 2003 to December 2007. METHODOLOGY: The study included patients admitted with acute cholecystitis considered unfit for immediate surgery but not responding to conservative management. Percutaneous cholecystostomy was conducted under ultrasound guidance. The studied variables included patients\u27 demographics, co-morbid, ultrasound findings of biliary tree, indication for percutaneous cholecystostomy, its route, complication during or after procedure, patient\u27s clinical outcome (upto 48 hours) and 30 days follow-up. Those with incomplete medical record and follow-up were excluded. Data were analyzed and results compiled using SPSS 16.0 version. Mean and standard deviation for quantitative variable like age was derived. Proportions were computed for complications and patient\u27s clinical outcome. RESULTS: Forty one patients with complete medical record were studied including 15 (37%) males and 26 (63%) females. Mean age was 65 +/-13.5 years. Indications for PC included calculus cholecystitis in 25, acalculous cholecystitis in 10, empyema in 04 and gallbladder perforation in 02 patients. No complication was seen during or after procedure in 31 (75%) patients. Complications occurred in 10 (25%) patients including vagal reaction, pain during procedure, tube blockage, catheter dislodgement and bile leakage. Favourable clinical response (improvement in clinical symptoms) was noted in 34 (83%) patients. Seven (17%) patients did not show any improvement in clinical condition after the procedure. On 30 days follow-up, 9 patients had undergone cholecystectomy, 5 (12%) patients expired due to underlying clinical conditions and the rest were settled without requiring an immediate cholecystectomy. There was no direct procedure-related mortality. CONCLUSION: Imaging guided PC is a safe and effective procedure for immediate management of non-resolving acute cholecystitis in patients high risk for surgery and anaesthesia and not responding to conservative management

ULTRASONOGRAPHIC DIAGNOSIS OF PLACENTA ACCRETA

Placenta accreta is the abnormal adherence of placenta to myometrium due to defect in decidua basalis. This type of placenta could not remove manually after delivery and lead to severe hemorrhage that may result in emergency cesarean hysterectomy. Prenatal diagnosis of placenta accreta is important because it reduces the fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality as appropriate pre-operative and per operative procedures are possible. Grey scale ultrasonography along with color Doppler imaging proves to be the non invasive, real time, readily available modality with high sensitivity and high positive predictive value

Evaluation of Chronic Liver Disease: Does Ultrasound Scoring Criteria Help?

Abstract Noninvasive approaches for assessment of liver histology include routine laboratory tests and radiological evaluation. The purpose of our study was to determine the utility of a simplified scoring system based on routinely evaluated ultrasound features for the evaluation of chronic liver disease and correlate it with the histological findings. For this cross-sectional analytical study the data was collected prospectively by nonprobability purposive sampling technique. The ultrasound variables/parameters and their assigned scoring system that was a modified version adopted from published literature were evaluated. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of the liver morphological score and combined score of liver morphology and sizes was determined using stage and grade as reference standard. Our results show a high sensitivity and PPV of liver morphological sonographic evaluation for the staging and grading of CLD respectively thus supporting it as a screening diagnostic strategy. Of the three liver morphology variables, specificity of liver surface evaluation was highest for the stage of fibrosis and grade of inflammation. The simplified ultrasound scoring system evaluated in our study is clinically relevant and reproducible for differentiating patients with CLD with mild or no fibrosis from moderate to severe fibrosis

Migration of health workers: a challenge for health care system

The migration of health workers has resulted in a growing apprehension universally because of its impact on health system of the developing countries. Although the choice to migrate is basically a personal one, however, the overall social and economic circumstances have important impact on the decision to migrate. The push and pull factors for migration are disparity in working conditions, pay, lack of promotion opportunities, poor living conditions, desire to gain experience, professional development, family background and family wealth. A strategic approach by the government and other agencies is mandatory for regulating the flow of health workers between countries. A range of policies and interventions are needed to deal with the broader health system issue and problems of health workers that influence their recruitment, retention, deployment and progress

Probably benign solid breast lesions on ultrasound: Need for biopsy reassessed

Objective: To determine the negative predictive value of ultrasound for breast masses with probably benign morphology, and to assess whether follow-up may be an acceptable alternative to biopsy. Methods: After Institutional Review Board approval, all solid breast masses categorized as probably benign (American College of Radiology Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System [BI-RADS] 3) on ultrasound from January 2014 to December 2015, and having either tissue diagnosis or imaging stability for 24 months, or downgrading to BIRADS 2 during imaging surveillance were included. Result: A total of 157 lesions in 40 patients constituted the study population. The mean patient age was 31.3 years (range, 20-56 years). Seventeen of these 157 lesions underwent tissue diagnosis with no invasive breast cancer. Out of the remaining 140 lesions, 115 were stable on imaging for 24 months or more. The rest 25 were deemed benign because of decrease in size on follow up (n=1), non-recommendation of further imaging by the second radiologist on follow up ultrasound (n= 13) or presence of benign tissue diagnosis in the largest lesion (n=11). Conclusion: Ultrasound has 100% negative predictive value for breast lesions with probably benign morphology, whether palpable or not. Follow up is an appropriate option to immediate biopsy of such lesions keeping in mind that noncompliance with surveillance may be a potential proble

Pancreatic lymphangioma

Lymphangioma develops as a consequence of lymphatic malformation and blockage of lymphatic flow. Pancreatic lymphangioma is a rare benign tumour which can grow reasonably large prior to manifestation of symptoms. On imaging, it appears as a complex multiseptated cystic mass. However, this appearance is not diagnostic and overlaps with cystic pancreatic neoplasm. We present a case of pancreatic lymphangioma incidentally discovered in an elderly lady who was managed conservatively since surgery could not be performed as the patient was high risk for surgery. Imaging findings along with follow-up of the case and review of literature is presented

Targeted ultrasound of an indeterminate breast lesion on mammography: When does it influence management?

Objective: To determine the change over mammographic diagnosis, BI-RADS category and management following targeted ultrasound of an indeterminate lesion seen on mammography and associated factors, if any.Study design: Descriptive, analytical study.Place and duration of study: Radiology Department, The Aga Khan University Hospital and Clifton Medical Services, Karachi, from April 2010 to May 2011.Methodology: Patients referred for targeted breast ultrasound following X-ray mammography were selected regardless of age. Targeted Ultrasound (TUS) was defined as a limited ultrasound of a specific lesion or breast part as indicated by the referring source. Comparison was made between the post mammography and post TUS lesion characterization, diagnosis and BI-RADS category (0-5) which was taken as a measure of management change. Those were evaluated to determine significance of age, marital status, parity, breast parenchymal pattern ( dense, fatty, heterogeneous), referring source for the TUS (radiology resident, radiologist or surgeon), lesion characteristics (density, echogenecity, shape, location, margins, size, depth-to-width ratio, enhancement or shadowing), presenting symptoms or signs and reason for TUS. Ap-value of 0.05 or less was taken as significant.Results: There were a total of 342 patients with mean age of 49.7 ±13.5 years. It assigned a definite category in 232 patients with an indefinite category (0) on mammography requiring further investigation. It decreased the suspicion for malignancy in 180 (77.58%) by assigning a low BI-RADS category and increased the suspicion in 52 (22.41%). The factors significantly associated with this changes included clinical indication being diagnostic (p \u3c 0.001), lesion characteristics on imaging (p \u3c 0.001), heterogenous breast parenchymal pattern (p \u3c 0.001) and presence of known risk factors (p=0.049).Conclusion: TUS served as a problem solving tool in the evaluation and management of an indeterminate breast lesion in a high number of patients, particularly when there was a lump as indication for imaging in the presence of risk factors in a patient with otherwise heterogeneously dense breast parenchyma