Role of Breast Ultrasound for the Detection and Differentiation of Breast Lesions

Diagnosis of breast cancer has been widely improved since the development of high-resolution ultrasound equipment. In the past, ultrasound was only considered useful for the diagnosis of cysts. Meanwhile, it improves the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant lesions, local preoperative staging and guided interventional diagnosis. In dense breasts, mammography has limited sensitivity. Furthermore, women with dense parenchyma have a highly increased risk of breast cancer development. Ultrasound is useful to examine dense breast tissue. Recent studies have shown that the detection of small cancers with high-resolution ultrasound is increased by 3–4 cancers per 1,000 women without clinical or mammographic abnormalities. Furthermore, stage distribution is similar between mammographically and sonographically detected carcinomas. Ultrasound is routinely used for curative diagnosis, to overcome the limitations of mammography. However, within the mammographic screening in Germany, breast density is not considered as important. Ultrasound is only used if a suspicious lesion is detected by mammography. Interestingly, 2 years ago, a screening project started in Austria in which ultrasound is always added in cases of dense breasts. Preliminary data show that the detection of additional carcinomas is increased in the same order as shown in previous studies. Therefore, an improved cancer detection and differentiation can be expected with high-resolution ultrasound

Evaluation der DEGUM-Mammasonografiekurse nach objektivierbaren Kriterien

Ziel: Die Evaluation der DEGUM-Mammasonografiekurse nach objektivierbaren Kriterien war Ziel dieser Arbeit. Damit sollte die Qualität der Kurse überprüft werden, um eine flächendeckende Fort- und Weiterbildung auf hohem Niveau anzubieten. Material und Methoden: 10 Qualitätskriterien, orientierend an den Vorgaben der KBV-Ultraschallvereinbarungen wurden als Qualitätsparameter definiert. Alle Kursleiter des Arbeitskreises Mammasonografie der DEGUM wurden angeschrieben. Dabei wurden die 10 definierten Qualitätskriterien überprüft. Ergebnisse: Alle Kurse erfüllten die Voraussetzungen bezüglich der Qualität des Kursleiters, der Kursdauer und Unterrichtseinheiten sowie der Anzahl an Kursteilnehmern pro Ultraschallgerät. In 1 von 9 Kursen wurde die Zeit der praktischen Übungen, gefordert sind 50 %, unterschritten. Die Voraussetzungen für den Abschlusskurs (200 selbst durchgeführte und dokumentierte Fälle) sind in den Kursankündigungen zum Teil nicht klar definiert. Ein strukturierter Lehrkatalog fehlt. Schlussfolgerung: Die DEGUM-Mammasonografiekurse werden auf hohem Niveau angeboten und erfüllen zum größten Teil die Anforderungen der KBV. Trotz der hohen Qualität der DEGUM-Kurse sind Optimierungsoptionen im Bereich Kursankündigung und strukturierter Lehrkatalog möglich.Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality standard of the nationwide breast ultrasound training program of the German Society of Ultrasound in Medicine (DEGUM) through objective parameters. Materials and methods: 10 quality criteria, based on the recommendations of The National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV), were defined for this study. All training units of the DEGUM received a questionnaire. The questionnaires and training material were analyzed. Results: All units met the required criteria pertaining to the trainer's qualification, duration per training course and the maximum number of participants per ultrasound machine. Only 1 course did not fulfill the required 50 % practical training time. The requirements to participate in the graduate course (200 self-made and documented cases) were not clearly conceived and a defined training log could be improved. Conclusion: DEGUM breast ultrasound training offers trainees a high level of education based on the requirements of the KBV. Despite the high quality of training, the content of course announcements could be improved and an official and structured educational index could be meaningful

Atmospheric Escape and Evolution of Terrestrial Planets and Satellites

International audienceThe origin and evolution of Venus', Earth's, Mars' and Titan's atmospheres are discussed from the time when the active young Sun arrived at the Zero-Age-Main-Sequence. We show that the high EUV flux of the young Sun, depending on the thermospheric composition, the amount of IR-coolers and the mass and size of the planet, could have been responsible that hydrostatic equilibrium was not always maintained and hydrodynamic flow and expansion of the upper atmosphere resulting in adiabatic cooling of the exobase temperature could develop. Furthermore, thermal and various nonthermal atmospheric escape processes influenced the evolution and isotope fractionation of the atmospheres and water inventories of the terrestrial planets and Saturn's large satellite Titan efficiently