Medical Imaging Senior Posters

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  Low Dose Computed Tomography and Lung Cancer

  Kayla Roman

  Low Dose Computed Tomography (LDCT) is frequently used for patients who have a high risk of developing lung cancer since it can visualize small tumors not identified on chest x-rays. There are two main types of lung cancer: non- small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. However, smoking is the main cause of lung cancer. The patient must be between the age of 55-80 years old and have a 30 pack-year smoking history, currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years to qualify for a LDCT scan. The main benefit of LDCT is that it can detect lung cancer early resulting in a greater survival rate. However, there are a few risks associated with undergoing a LDCT scan such as incidental findings, false positives, and radiation induced cancer. Incidental findings may result in additional testing for the patient but may be beneficial for their health. False positives can also result in unnecessary testing for the patient which can increase radiation dose and financial costs. Radiation induced cancer is a major concern with lung cancer screenings, but LDCT scans have a radiation dose of 1.5 mSv per annual exam compared to a standard chest CT which has a radiation dose of 8 mSv.

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  Breast Fibroadenomas

  Jessica Savage

  Breast fibroadenomas are common benign (non-cancerous) breast tumors made up of glandular and stromal (connective tissue) found in women of all ages. Fibroadenomas take on a solid lump feeling like a marble in the breast. They often cause no pain to the patient and are unilateral. There are four types of breast fibroadenomas: complex fibroadenoma, juvenile fibroadenoma, giant fibroadenoma, and phyllodes tumor. Each type has their own distinct characteristics. Fibroadenomas tend to shrink after a woman goes through menopause. While there is no medical treatment or medicine to decrease the lumps, surgical excision may be necessary if the lumps are increasing in size, becoming painful, and if there is any uncertainty between breast fibroadenomas and other health conditions. It is important for women who have breast fibroadenomas to participate in yearly mammograms to confirm the fibroadenomas are not growing. A case report showed the findings of a 26-year-old female with a lump measuring 6 x 3 cm in her right breast. Her left breast was normal with no problems and the axillary lymph nodes were evident. An ultrasound verified the diagnosis of a non-cancerous breast fibroadenoma. An excisional biopsy was arranged to remove the fibroadenoma.

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  The Complexity of Diagnosing Sclerosing Breast Adenosis

  Lauren Sokirka

  The Complexity of Diagnosing Sclerosing Breast Adenosis

  Lauren Sokirka

  Dr. Elaine Halesey, Ed.D., R.T.(R)(QM)

  Abstract

  This project explains the research conducted on the complexity of sclerosing breast adenosis and the specific findings that can lead to a misdiagnosis. Explanation of the disease, methods of diagnosis, case-studies, and risk factors are discussed. In addition, common presentations in misdiagnoses in imaging modalities such as MRI, mammography and ultrasound are included in this project. Sclerosing adenosis is dominantly found in women around the perimenopausal age and usually does not show any symptoms. When the breast is imaged through multiple modalities, the presentation of the disease can be mistaken as invasive carcinoma. If a patient has an unclear presentation of this disease, a biopsy may be done to verify the existence or nonexistence of a malignancy. A patient who has sclerosing adenosis is associated with a 1.7 to 3.7 times more risk for developing cancer. In most cases after the diagnosis of sclerosing adenosis, the patient does not need any special treatment options.

  Keywords: Sclerosing Adenosis, Mammography, Breast, Carcinoma

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  Interventional Breast Imaging

  Agripina Torres

  Interventional breast imaging is essential in the diagnosis of abnormal findings in the breast tissue. Interventional breast imaging began as an open excision; the breast was biopsied through a surgical procedure that required the whole breast to be excised, thus allowing a sample of the breast tissue to be obtained. With this type of biopsy, the patient would have a longer recovery time, a higher cost, and, in some cases, unnecessary excisions. Image guided breast intervention, however, has led to the decline of open excisions. Biopsies performed under the guidance of an imaging modality allow breast interventions to be safe, accurate, and cost-efficient. Through literature review, breast interventions have shown the transition that the role of breast interventions has taken. Instead of the one biopsy, it has developed into a variety of biopsies that can be categorized into two types of palpable and non-palpable biopsies/ needle localization. Additionally, the image guidance can be done through three different modalities: mammography, sonography, and magnetic resonance imaging. Each modality has its advantages and disadvantages, but they tend to work with one another. In order to know which modality to use for the chosen biopsy, many factors of both the patient and abnormal findings are taken into consideration. Some biopsies have more than one modality that can be used as a guide, while there are other biopsies that can only use the one modality. Through the advancements in technology, many of the modalities are improving their methods of biopsy.

  Keywords: Breast Intervention, Image Guidance, Breast Biopsies, Mammography, Sonography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging

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  FLASH Cardiac Imaging of the Coronary Arteries

  Cierra Yonchik

  Single Source Cardiac Computed Tomography (CT) Imaging for evaluation of the coronary arteries occurs in multiple formats; the most common being prospective sequential and retrospective spiral methods. The differences between the two methods include dose to the patient as well as the image acquisition process. Dual source CT or Flashcardiac imaging of the coronary arteries is an additional method currently utilized by many facilities via Siemens® equipment. Dual-source imaging has multiple advantages and few disadvantages. An in-depth comparison between flash (dual-source) imaging and traditional (single-source)cardiac imaging is the purpose of this research.