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Biomedical subjects

M B McSweeney

Publications and source records attributed to M B McSweeney.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Transvaginal pulsed Doppler ultrasound assessment of blood flow to the corpus luteum in IVF patients following embryo transfer.

The waveforms of vessels supplying the ovaries of women on an in-vitro fertilization (IVF) programme were studied using transvaginal B-mode and Doppler ultrasound. There were 125 scans recorded in 65 women at weekly intervals from 3 days after embryo transfer or 5 days after gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) until confirmation of pregnancy or onset of menses. At each examination the signals obtained from vessels supplying the ovaries were recorded and quantified using a resistance index (RI). Fifteen patients became pregnant of whom one has subsequently miscarried. There was a highly significant difference in the RI values between patients who became pregnant and those who did not; no patient who became pregnant had a RI greater than 0.5. Oestrogen to progesterone ratios were calculated in the subgroup of non-pregnant patients and there was no correlation between these values and the RI values. This new technique enables prediction of IVF treatment failure earlier than has been reported previously and may reflect the inadequacy of the corpus luteum.

Corpus Luteum↗

Transvaginal sonography: comparison with transabdominal sonography in the diagnosis of pelvic masses.

In a retrospective study, we compared transvaginal sonograms with transabdominal sonograms in 67 women referred for evaluation of palpable pelvic masses. The diagnoses included ovarian cyst (27), endometrioma (12), complex cyst (four), dermoid (three), infection (three), ovarian malignancy (two), and uterine fibroid (three). The final diagnosis was made surgically in 41 patients (61%) and by a combination of sonographic and clinical correlation in the remaining patients. More information about the internal architecture or anatomy of the mass was provided by the transvaginal images than by the transabdominal scans in 51 (76%) of the patients. Transabdominal sonography did not provide more diagnostic information in any of the patients examined. Transvaginal sonography was helpful in obese patients, in those with a large amount of bowel gas, and in those unable to achieve adequate bladder filling. Six simple cysts and four complex pelvic masses were identified solely on transvaginal sonograms. The results suggest that transvaginal sonography has considerable advantages over conventional transabdominal sonography in the evaluation of pelvic masses in women.

Adult↗

Whole-breast sonography.

Ultrasound has been found to be useful as an adjunct to mammography and physical examination of the breast. It has detected lesions not identified by any other modality and has allowed more precise diagnosis of palpable and/or radiographically demonstrated lesions. Ultrasound should not be used as the sole breast imaging modality, however, because of its inability to detect microcalcifications and its difficulty in demonstrating small solid lesions, particularly in the fatty breast.

Abscess↗

Enhanced-image mammography.

A blurred-mass subtraction technique has been developed for mammography, which enhances small-object contrast and visibility throughout the breast area. The procedure is easy to implement and requires no additional exposure. Perception of low-contrast objects is improved by eliminating extreme light- and dark-image areas. Contrast of structures within certain portions of the breast is increased by compression into the high-contrast portion of the film characteristic curve. Detail visibility is also increased by the edge enhancement produced by this process. This paper describes the enhancement process and gives an analysis of its capabilities and limitations.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of breast disease: use of transverse relaxation times.

The ability of magnetic resonance imaging (MR) to demonstrate breast carcinoma depends upon significantly different relaxation times in benign and malignant tissues. The authors conducted an in vitro study of transverse relaxation times (T2) of 393 breast tissue samples in order to establish a range of values for normal tissue, benign lesions, and carcinoma. All T2 values were multiexponential. Benign lesions were readily distinguished from both invasive and noninvasive carcinoma in samples containing fat or a mixture of fat and fibrous tissue; however, in purely fibrous samples there was some overlap of T2 values in benign and malignant tissues. Although the data acquisition and analysis requirements involved in this in vitro study exceed the capabilities of present whole-body MR imagers, the added understanding gained through efforts of this type may aid both interpretation of current images and future developments.

Adenofibroma↗

Intramammary lymph nodes.

Radiographic, gross, and histopathologic studies on 158 whole breasts with primary operable carcinoma revealed intramammary lymph nodes in 28%, and of these breasts, 10% contained a metastatic deposit of carcinoma. Cancerous and noncancerous nodes were found in all quadrants of the breast with the positive ones being in the same quadrant as the carcinoma only 50% of the time. There was no demonstrable connection with the usual lymphatic drainage of the breast. With Stage II carcinoma, positive intramammary lymph nodes had no direct effect on prognosis, merely representing advanced disease and indicating a greater likelihood of axillary metastatic disease. There was a trend toward poorer prognosis in Stage I lesions with positive intramammary lymph nodes. This may indicate the Stage I carcinomas that have a similar prognosis as Stage II tumors. Conceivably, a Stage Ia, positive intramammary lymph node(s) but normal axillary lymph nodes, could be defined and used.

Breast Neoplasms↗

X-ray calcifications as the only basis for breast biopsy.

Two hundred fifty-one consecutive patients were treated between 1964 and 1982 with mammographic calcifications as the only reason for breast biopsy. Patients with either clinical or x-ray findings other than calcifications were excluded. A correlation of the x-ray, pathology, and clinical experience is the basis of this report. Specimen radiography with paraffin section histology (i.e., no frozen section) was performed on all biopsy material. The procedure of specimen radiography that was utilized is described. A team approach involving radiologists, pathologists, and surgeons has been essential both to confirm excision of the calcifications and localize them for pathology study. Carcinoma was found in 45 patients (17%). A retrospective study of the calcifications was also undertaken to determine characteristics that would permit definitive radiographic diagnosis of benign or malignant disease.

Biopsy↗

Grids in mammography.

A special soft-tissue grid reduced scattered radiation to the receptor and resulted in improved contrast and visibility of small structures to the degree that increased kVp could be used during screen-film mammography. The reduction in radiation to the skin that is associated with the more penetrating higher kVp technique more than compensated for the Bucky factor of the grid. This technique allowed for better penetration of the base of large, dense breasts without the use of vigorous compression. Results that were obtained with a faster (2X) film are also presented and discussed.

Female↗

Enhanced image mammography.

A blurred mass subtraction technique has been developed for mammography that will enhance small object contrast and visibility throughout the breast area. The procedure is easy to implement and requires no additional exposure. Perception of low-contrast objects is improved by eliminating extreme light and dark image areas. Contrast of structures within certain parts of the breast is increased by compression into the high-contrast part of the film characteristic curve. Detail visibility is also increased by the edge enhancement produced by this process. This paper describes the enhancement process and gives an analysis of its capabilities and limitations.

Breast Neoplasms↗