Imaging for the Initial Staging and Post-Treatment Surveillance of Penile Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Although relatively rare in the United States, penile squamous cell carcinoma is encountered worldwide at a higher rate. Initial diagnosis is often made on clinical exam, as almost all of these lesions are externally visible and amenable to biopsy. In distinction to other types of malignancies, penile cancer relies heavily on clinical nodal staging of the inguinal lymph node chains. As with all cancers, imaging plays a role in the initial staging, restaging, and surveillance of these patients. The aim of this manuscript is to highlight the applications, advantages, and limitations of different imaging modalities in the evaluation of penile cancer, including ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography.

Using the Bosniak classification from the perspective of current clinical guidelines: the role of multiparameter ultrasound

Kidney cystic formations are a common finding during ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Most kidney cysts are benign, however, in 5–7 % of cases, renal cell carcinoma can be represented by a complex cystic formation. The Bosniak classification allows you to determine the risk of a malignant process and, depending on the assignment of the resulting image to a category, plan treatment tactics. The classification was initially based on the characteristics of cysts according to computed tomography data. Other methods of radiation imaging, such as magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound, are now also used to characterize complex cystic lesions. The article provides data on the assessment of renal cystic formations according to the Bosniak classification according to modern clinical guidelines, including the use of multiparametric ultrasound

Bio-Conjugated Quantum Dots for Cancer Research: Detection and Imaging

Ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance, and gamma scintigraphy-based detection and bio-imaging technologies have achieved outstanding breakthroughs in recent years. However, these technologies still encounter several limitations such as insufficient sensitivity, specificity and security that limit their applications in cancer detection and bio-imaging. The semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) are a kind of newly developed fluorescent nanoparticles that have superior fluorescence intensity, strong resistance to photo-bleaching, size-tunable light emission and could produce multiple fluorescent colors under single-source excitation. Furthermore, QDs have optimal surface to link with multiple targets such as antibodies, peptides, and several other small molecules. Thus, QDs might serve as potential, more sensitive and specific methods of detection than conventional methods applied in cancer molecular targeting and bio-imaging. However, many challenges such as cytotoxicity and nonspecific uptake still exist limiting their wider applications. In the present review, we aim to summarize the current applications and challenges of QDs in cancer research mainly focusing on tumor detection, bio-imaging, and provides opinions on how to address these challenges.

Radiologic imaging findings of pelvic aggressive angiomyxoma correlated with surgical and pathological features

Background Aggressive angiomyxoma is an infrequent benign tumor that usually occurs in the pelvic region. Pelvic masses have variety of differential diagnosis but some featured findings should prompt the diagnosis of aggressive angiomyxoma by the radiologist. Case presentation A 40-year-old female patient presented with a two-year history of perineal swelling. Radiological examination including gray scale and color Doppler ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was consistent with the diagnosis of aggressive angiomyxoma. The patient underwent surgical operation that ensures total resection of the tumor. Conclusion In the case of extensive pelvic soft tissue mass with characteristic imaging findings, the radiologists should take the diagnosis of aggressive angiomyxoma into consideration.

Reflection-Mode Ultrasound Computed Tomography Based on Wavelet Processing for High-Contrast Anatomical and Morphometric Imaging

Medical B-mode ultrasound is widely used for the examination of children’s limbs, including soft tissue, muscle, and bone. However, for the accurate examination of the bone only, it is often replaced by more restrictive clinical modalities. Several authors have investigated ultrasonic imaging of bone to assess cortical thickness and/or to estimate the wave velocity through the internal structure. The present work focuses on the transverse slice imaging process using reflection-mode ultrasound computed tomography (USCT). The method is valid for imaging soft tissues with similar acoustic impedances, but in the presence of bone, the higher contrasts alter the propagation of ultrasonic waves and reduce the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). There is a need to change the methods used for the processing of ultrasonic signals. Our group has developed a wavelet-based coded excitation (WCE) method to process information in frequency and time. The objective of this study is to use the method to improve reflection-mode USCT, at low ultrasonic intensities, to better address organ morphometry. Experimental results on a newborn arm phantom and on an ex vivo chicken drumstick are presented, and the usefulness of this WCE-mode USCT is discussed.

Solid Pseudopapillary Neoplasm of the Pancreas -Raising Awareness of a Rare Tumor

Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN) is a rare clinical entity. One third of the patients are asymptomatic and the diagnostic is based on imaging studies (abdominal ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging) and histological examination of biopsies obtained most frequently by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration. In this article we made a short review of the literature and present the imaging and histological aspects found in our patients with SNP.