Explore the vast range of titles available.

Globally, breast cancer is reported as a primary cause of death in women. More than 1.8 million new breast cancer cases are diagnosed every year. Because of the current limitations on clinical imaging, researchers are motivated to investigate complementary tools and alternatives to available techniques for detecting breast cancer in earlier stages. This article presents a review of concepts and electromagnetic techniques for microwave breast imaging. More specifically, this work reviews ultra-wideband (UWB) antenna sensors and their current applications in medical imaging, leading to breast imaging. We review the use of UWB sensor based microwave energy in various imaging applications for breast tumor related diseases, tumor detection, and breast tumor detection. In microwave imaging, the back-scattered signals radiating by sensors from a human body are analyzed for changes in the electrical properties of tissues. Tumorous cells exhibit higher dielectric constants because of their high water content. The goal of this article is to provide microwave researchers with in-depth information on electromagnetic techniques for microwave imaging sensors and describe recent developments in these techniques.

From its inception, screening mammography has enjoyed a perceived level of sensitivity that is inconsistent with available evidence. The original data that imparted erroneous beliefs about sensitivity were based on a variety of misleading definitions and approaches, such as the inclusion of palpable tumors, using the inverse of interval cancer rates (often tied to an arbitrary 12 month interval), and quoting prevalence screen sensitivity wherein tumors are larger than those found on incidence screens. This review addresses the background for the overestimation of mammographic sensitivity, and how a major adjustment in our thinking is overdue now that multi-modality imaging allows us to determine real time mammographic sensitivity. Although a single value for mammographic sensitivity is disingenuous, given the wide range based on background density, it is important to realize that a sensitivity gap between belief and reality still exists in the early detection of breast cancer using mammography alone, in spite of technologic advances. Failure to recognize this gap diminishes the acceptance of adjunct methods of breast imaging that greatly complement detection rates. •The sensitivity of mammography has been overstated since its inception.•With the introduction of adjunct imaging methods, this error became apparent.•Screening ultrasound adds significantly to cancer detection in dense breasts.•Screening MRI adds significantly to cancer detection in high risk patients.•Benefit of adjunct imaging can also be demonstrated in the general population, but cost-effectiveness becomes a challenge.

Background Most lymph node metastasis (LNM) models for early gastric cancer (EGC) include lymphovascular invasion (LVI) as a predictor. However, LVI must be confirmed by postoperative pathology. In this study, we aimed to develop a model for predicting the risk of LNM/LVI in EGC using preoperative factors. Methods EGC patients who underwent radical gastrectomy at Fujian Medical University Union Hospital and Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center ( n  = 1460) were selected as the training set. The risk factors of LNM/LVI were investigated. Data from the International study group on Minimally Invasive surgery for GASTRIc Cancer trial ( n  = 172) were selected as the validation set. Results In the training set, the incidence of LNM/LVI was 21.6%. The 5-year cancer-specific survival rates of patients with and without LNM/LVI were 92.4 and 95.0%, respectively, with significant difference ( P  = 0.030). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that the four independent risk factors for LNM/LVI were female, tumor larger than 20 mm, submucosal invasion and undifferentiated tumor histological type (all P  <  0.05); the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.694 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.659–0.730). Patients were divided into low-risk, intermediate-risk, high-risk and extremely high-risk groups by recursive partitioning analysis; the incidences of LNM/LVI were 5.4, 12.6, 24.2 and 37.8%, respectively ( P  <  0.001). The AUC of the validation set was 0.796 (95%CI, 0.662–0.851) and the predictive performance of the LNM/LVI risk in the validation set was consistent with that in the training set. Conclusions The risk of LNM/LVI in differentiated mucosal EGC is low, which indicated that endoscopic resection is a treatment option. The risk of LNM/LVI in undifferentiated mucosal EGC and submucosa EGC are high and gastrectomy with lymph node dissection is suggested.

Backgrounds We previously reported a highly sensitive method for serum human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). α-fetoprotein (AFP) and des-γ-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) are good markers for HCC. In this study, we verified the significance of hTERTmRNA in a large scale multi-centered trial, collating quantified values with clinical course. Methods In 638 subjects including 303 patients with HCC, 89 with chronic hepatitis (CH), 45 with liver cirrhosis (LC) and 201 healthy individuals, we quantified serum hTERTmRNA using the real-time RT-PCR. We examined its sensitivity and specificity in HCC diagnosis, clinical significance, ROC curve analysis in comparison with other tumor markers, and its correlations with the clinical parameters using Pearson relative test and multivariate analyses. Furthermore, we performed a prospective and comparative study to observe the change of biomarkers, including hTERTmRNA in HCC patients receiving anti-cancer therapies. Results hTERTmRNA was demonstrated to be independently correlated with clinical parameters; tumor size and tumor differentiation (P < 0.001, each). The sensitivity/specificity of hTERTmRNA in HCC diagnosis showed 90.2%/85.4% for hTERT. hTERTmRNA proved to be superior to AFP, AFP-L3, and DCP in the diagnosis and underwent an indisputable change in response to therapy. The detection rate of small HCC by hTERTmRNA was superior to the other markers. Conclusions hTERTmRNA is superior to conventional tumor markers in the diagnosis and recurrence of HCC at an early stage.

Background First-void urine (FVU) collection for high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) testing has game-changing potential to improve cervical cancer prevention among under-screened women who remain unreached by clinician-based cervical cancer screening and vaginal self-sampling. Yet, the wide variation in the clinical accuracy of hrHPV testing in urine for detecting high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN2 + /CIN3 +) across studies and clinical settings highlights the importance of local piloting and validation. This study determined the relative clinical accuracy of hrHPV testing in FVU versus clinician-collected cervical samples to detect CIN2 + /CIN3 + in a Danish referral population. Methods In a diagnostic test accuracy study, paired FVU (10 mL Colli-Pee device; index test) and cervical samples (Cervex Combi brush; comparator test) were obtained from 325 women aged 23–64 years (median age 36.0 years (IQR 29–46) who were either referred for colposcopy and biopsy taking or a cervical excision (reference test; available for all participants). Samples were tested using Allplex HR HPV DNA extended genotyping assay. Same absolute cut-off for hrHPV positivity applied for cervical samples was used for FVU. Of the 325 women, 145 (44.6%), 180 (55.4%), and 138 (42.5%) were diagnosed with < CIN2, CIN2 + , and CIN3 + , respectively. Results Sensitivity to detect CIN2 + (ratio 0.97, 95% CI 0.92–1.02, p MCN  = 0.33) and CIN3 + (ratio 0.95, 95% CI 0.90–1.00, p MCN  = 0.09) using hrHPV testing in FVU samples was not significantly different to hrHPV testing in cervical samples, whereas specificity for < CIN2 (ratio 0.67, 95% CI 0.46–0.96, p MCN  = 0.04) was significantly lower in FVU than on cervical samples. Moderate to excellent hrHPV test agreements between paired samples were demonstrated (Cohen’s kappa = 0.44 to 0.88). Conclusions This is the first study proving similar CIN2 + /CIN3 + sensitivity for FVU-hrHPV testing using the 10-mL Colli-Pee device and Allplex HR HPV assay compared to testing in cervical samples. From an implementation perspective, further research is needed to gather additional clinical accuracy and acceptability data on hrHPV testing of FVU-device collection in under-screened populations to support its broader integration into screening programmes. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT05065853.