Dependent compression mammography. A new look at an old idea.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Breast Neoplasms↗
Biomedical subjects
B Threatt
Publications and source records attributed to B Threatt.
Percutaneous needle localisation of breast lesions prior to biopsy: analysis of failures.
Mammography can detect clinically occult breast cancer. But with minimal or no physical findings the lesion can be quite difficult for the surgeon to find within the recumbent breast at biopsy. Percutaneous needle localisation, the placement of a needle in or in the vicinity of such a clinically silent lesion, provides an internal landmark to assist the surgeon. Review of our experience of 90 procedures using this technique disclosed a success rate of approximately 90%. The biopsies diagnosed 14 cancers before local or distant metastasis could be found. The eleven of the fourteen who had axillary dissection were found to have negative nodes. Identifiable causes of failure were sought and discussed in the 7 documented failures. Faulty needle placement was judged noncontributory in all but one case. Needle movement between time of placement and time of biopsy could never be excluded and is in fact suspected in two failures. Immediate re-sampling, or larger initial specimens would have salvaged the procedure in most instances of failure. We feel poor communication and poor mutual understanding of the localization procedure to be the major contributing cause of failure. Even so, we have been able to use the technique with 90% success. The development of mammography brought with it the opportunity to detect small non-palpable carcinomas and the surgical problem of removing them at biopsy. While the suspect lesions identified by mammography are frequently benign, the cancers found are usually small and some only microscopic in size. The literature contains many descriptions of various techniques for localising such lesions prior to biopsy. We are reporting our experience with percutaneous needle localisation. To our knowledge, we have the distinction of being the first to report difficulty with a localisation technique and will analyse possible reasons. Some of the problems are common to all the localisation techniques.
Adult↗
A simple device for dependent compression mammography.
The authors describe an inexpensive device which displaces the dependent breast from the chest wall for optimum and uniform compression of breast tissue during mammography. Exposure is reduced, detail is enhanced, and superimposed structures are spread out. The filming time is about five minutes, and repeat or additional views are rarely necessary. The authors feel that by using this device, they have not missed any posterior lesions in more than 10 years of use. Even dense breasts are adequately visualized with this technique.
Female↗
Criteria for obtaining and interpreting breast thermagrams.
The thermal and graphic criteria which should be used to evaluate breast thermograms are outlined. Thermograms are then categorized as normal, suspicious, or abnormal on the basis of the criteria outlined. It is hoped that these criteria can be used widely to standardize breast thermographic evaluation.
Breast Neoplasms↗
Early detection of breast cancer.
Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in North American women. The incidence rate is increasing by about 2% annually, while the mortality rate has remained stable for 50 years. Screening by physical examination and mammography can decrease the mortality rate in women over 50 by 30%. The screening process is rewarding, but meticulous attention to detail is required in both the physical and mammographic assessment in order to define significant abnormalities.
Adult↗