ObjectiveTo evaluate the validity of two abbreviated protocols (AP) of MRI in breast cancer screening of dense breast tissue.Materials and MethodsThis was a retrospective study in 356 participants with dense breast tissue and negative mammography results. The study was approved by the Nanjing Medical University Ethics Committee. Patients were imaged with a full diagnostic protocol (FDP) of MRI. Two APs (AP-1 consisting of the first post-contrast subtracted [FAST] and maximum-intensity projection [MIP] images, and AP-2 consisting of AP-1 combined with diffusion-weighted imaging [DWI]) and FDP images were analyzed separately, and the sensitivities and specificities of breast cancer detection were calculated.ResultsOf the 356 women, 67 lesions were detected in 67 women (18.8%) by standard MR protocol, and histological examination revealed 14 malignant lesions and 53 benign lesions. The average interpretation time of AP-1 and AP-2 were 37 seconds and 54 seconds, respectively, while the average interpretation time of the FDP was 3 minutes and 25 seconds. The sensitivities of the AP-1, AP-2, and FDP were 92.9, 100, and 100%, respectively, and the specificities of the three MR protocols were 86.5, 95.0, and 96.8%, respectively. There was no significant difference among the three MR protocols in the diagnosis of breast cancer (p > 0.05). However, the specificity of AP-1 was significantly lower than that of AP-2 (p = 0.031) and FDP (p = 0.035), while there was no difference between AP-2 and FDP (p > 0.05).ConclusionThe AP may be efficient in the breast cancer screening of dense breast tissue. FAST and MIP images combined with DWI of MRI are helpful to improve the specificity of breast cancer detection.

Background/Aims: To explore the potential value of myo-inositol (mIns), which is regarded as a biomarker for early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, in APP/PS1 transgenic (tg) mice detected by ¹H-MRS. Methods:¹H-MRS was performed in 30 APP/PS1 tg mice and 20 wild-type (wt) littermates at 3, 5 and 8 months of age. Areas under the peak of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), mIns and creatine (Cr) in the frontal cortex and hippocampus were measured, and the NAA/Cr and mIns/Cr ratios were analyzed quantitatively. Results: Compared with the wt mice, the mIns/Cr ratio of the 3-month-old tg mice was significantly higher (p < 0.05), and pathology showed activation and proliferation of astrocytes in the frontal cortex and hippocampus. The concentration of NAA was significantly lower at 8 and 8 months of age (p < 0.05). According to the threshold of mIns/Cr that was adopted to separate the tg from the wt mice, the rate of correct predictions was 82, 94 and 95%, respectively, for 3, 5 and 8 months. Conclusion: Of the early AD metabolites as detected by ¹H-MRS, mIns is the most valuable marker for assessment of AD. Quantitative analysis of mIns may provide important clues for early diagnosis of AD.

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