Bright echogenic foci in early prostatic carcinoma: sonographic and pathologic correlation

One hundred sixty patients with biopsy-proved clinical stage A or B prostatic carcinoma were examined with high-resolution transrectal ultrasonography prior to radical prostatectomy. All tumors showed either a hypoechoic or isoechoic echo pattern. However, 11 patients demonstrated evidence of focal bright echogenic areas at the periphery or within the center of a hypoechoic tumor. Coarse echogenic foci seen in seven patients corresponded pathologically to calcified corpora amylacea in benign tumors of the prostate gland either at the edge of the tumor or scattered throughout the tumor. Seven patients showed a fine, stippled echogenic pattern within the lesion. On a pathologic level, this pattern represented high-grade tumors with extensive central comedonecrosis and calcifications in five patients and an unusual deposit of small intraluminal crystalloid deposits in two patients. Combinations of echo patterns were observed in three patients. This study demonstrates that echogenic foci can be seen within predominantly hypoechoic tumor nodules. Coarse bright echoes, usually at the periphery of the tumor, suggest calcifications in benign prostate glands. Tumor calcifications and intraluminal prostatic crystalloid deposits were located more centrally and had a finer stippled sonographic appearance.     

Prostatic carcinoma and benign prostatic hyperplasia: MR imaging with histopathologic correlation

Twenty-eight patients with prostatic carcinoma who underwent magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and subsequent radical prostatectomy were studied. The resected prostates were sectioned axially, and the whole-mount prostatic specimen was compared with the corresponding MR images. The carcinoma could be identified in 20 cases (71%), but the tumor volume was underestimated in 12 patients (43%). In 19 of 20 visualized cases (95%), the carcinoma was seen as an area of low signal intensity within the peripheral zone on T2-weighted images. However, in one case the signal intensity of the carcinoma was higher than that of the remainder of the peripheral zone. All carcinomas were located within the peripheral zone. The accuracy of MR imaging in the prediction of extraglandular tumor spread was 82%, with a sensitivity of 37.5% and a specificity of 100%. Nineteen patients (67%) exhibited histologically benign hyperplasia, which could be identified on MR images in 10 cases (53%). The signal intensities of the nodules varied. All areas of benign hyperplasia were located within the central zone. The location of the pathologic changes must therefore be considered in differential diagnosis.     

前列腺癌和增生的MRI与病理对照研究

目的 研究前列腺癌不同ＭＲＩ表现的病理基础,以提高ＭＲＩ对前列腺癌和增生诊断的准确性。方法 观察经病理证实的４３例前列腺癌和４０例增生患者的前列腺形态及信号改变,并加以比较,前列腺癌组中１７例取前列腺左右两侧外周区上中下、左右移行区上下共１０点进行穿刺,对穿刺组织分别进行病理检查,同时计算癌变组织占总穿刺体积的百分比,并与其ＭＲＩ进行对比。结果 前列腺癌形态规则３１例,不规则１２例,增生组分别为３     

Invasive ductal carcinoma with fibrotic focus: mammographic and sonographic findings with histopathologic correlation

OBJECTIVE: We sought to define the imaging findings of invasive ductal carcinoma with fibrotic focus and its associated histopathologic correlation. CONCLUSION: Radiologists should be aware of the imaging characteristics of this newly described entity because of the significant prognostic implications and perhaps to prompt the pathologist to assess for the presence of a fibrotic focus at excision.     

Magnetic resonance tomography of prostatic cancer. A histopathologic correlation

A total of 52 patients with prostatic carcinoma were examined by MR imaging; 14 of them subsequently underwent radical prostatectomy and were included in this study. The resected prostates were sectioned axially and compared with the corresponding MR scans with special reference to the location and extent of the pathological changes. The prostatic carcinoma was visualized in 10 cases, but the size of the tumor was underestimated in 6 patients. In 9 of 10 patients the carcinoma was identifiable as an area of low signal intensity within the peripheral zone on T2-weighted images. The MR features of benign nodular hyperplasia are discussed.     

Prostatic carcinoma and benign prostatic hyperplasia: correlation of high-resolution MR and histopathologic findings

High-resolution magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of 24 fresh radical prostatectomy specimens was performed on an experimental 1.9-T system. Direct correlation between the findings in 7-micron-thick macrosections and their corresponding MR images was possible. Fourteen patients had macroscopic evidence of cancer. In all 14 cases, the carcinoma nodules appeared as areas of low signal intensity on images obtained with a repetition time of 2,500 msec and an echo time of 80 msec. Ten of 14 nodules had well-defined margins and consisted of densely packed glandular elements, which displaced the surrounding normal glandular material of higher signal intensity. Ten specimens displayed benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The MR characteristics of this entity were quite variable but relatively predictable, depending on the distribution and size of the glandular elements, as well as the composition of the surrounding stroma. In BPH, the changes began in the central portion of the gland. The areas of highest signal intensity corresponded to dilated glandular elements (cystic ectasia), while the areas of lowest signal intensity corresponded to collagen (scar) and fibromuscular stroma. Nodules of mixed glandular BPH and fibromuscular BPH were found to have signal intensities similar to those of well-differentiated nodules of prostatic adenocarcinoma.     

Breast multidetector-row CT with histopathologic correlation

PURPOSE: To evaluate the correlation between multidetector-row CT (MDCT) and histopathologic findings using the same MDCT image as the histopathologic cross-section. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MDCT with contrast enhancement was performed in 10 patients with breast cancers (8 invasive ductal carcinomas, one invasive lobular carcinoma, and one non-invasive ductal carcinoma). We tried to reconstruct multiplanar reconstructions (MPR) in the same plane as the histopathologic cross-section, and we evaluated the histopathologic findings of the false-positive lesions. RESULTS: In all cases, we obtained the same MDCT image as the histopathologic cross-section. There were 10 main lesions and 18 other lesions. In the other lesions, we found no false-negative lesions and 11 false-positive lesions. False-positive lesions included periductal fibrosis, cystic change, duct papillomatosis, sclerosing adenosis, fibroadenoma, and others. CONCLUSION: Using MDCT of the breast, it is possible to obtain good correlation between CT images and histopathologic findings. MDCT is thought to be useful in the evaluation CT findings on the basis of histopathologic evidence.     

Meningioangiomatosis: clinical, radiologic, and histopathologic correlation

Meningioangiomatosis (MA) is a rare, benign, hamartomatous lesion of the leptomeninges; MA has been considered to be a forme fruste of neurofibromatosis. A review of pathology records for patients with MA who were seen between 1970 and 1989 at the authors' institutions revealed four patients (three male and one female; aged 2.5-21.0 years; mean, 10.8 years) with a history of seizures but without the stigmata or family history of neurofibromatosis. Three patients had undergone either computed tomographic (CT) or magnetic resonance (MR) imaging studies. All patients had undergone craniotomies to obtain tissue for pathologic analysis; a peripheral, leptomeningeal lesion was found in all four patients. At CT in two patients, the lesions were most consistent with calcification. At T2-weighted MR imaging in one patient, the lesion demonstrated a hyperintense periphery with associated edema of the white matter. Histopathologic examination demonstrated characteristic features of MA--cortical meningovascular fibroblastic proliferation and leptomeningeal calcification. The accurate diagnosis of MA is important since MA is a benign, surgically correctable cause of seizures.     

The ultrasound appearances of prostatic cancer with histological correlation

An analysis of the ultrasound appearances of the prostate with its capsule and periprostatic structures was performed in 221 patients with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of prostatic cancer. The cancers were histologically graded into well, moderate and poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma and transitional cell carcinoma. The results of this study indicate that an ill-defined hypoechoic area is the commonest appearance of prostatic cancer; this was seen in 96% of our 221 patients. The cancers were staged by ultrasound into confined (T0, T1, T2) and unconfined (T3) cancers. A breach of the capsule was seen in 55% of cases. In this unconfined group all cancers were hypoechoic in comparison with 92% in the confined group. In the confined cancer group the areas of abnormal echogenicity were present in more than one prostatic quadrant in 76%. Mostly commonly two prostatic quadrants were affected. The abnormal echogenicity was noted in the posterior quadrants of the prostate more commonly (58%) than in the anterior quadrants. The prostate gland appeared round in 67%, semicircular in 25% and crescentic in 8%. The gland was symmetrical in 68%. The prostatic capsule appeared regular in 86% of patients with a confined cancer. In 70% of cases of extensive but confined cancer there was loss of demarcation between the central and peripheral zones of the gland. The unconfined cancer group all had a breach of the capsule and all glands were heterogeneous due to hypoechoic areas. The breach affected more than one quadrant in 81% and most commonly the capsular breach involved two prostatic quadrants. An anterior breach of the capsule was noted much more frequently than a posterior breach. Forty-four per cent of cases had three or four quadrants of the gland involved. In 3% of cases of proven prostatic cancer no definite ultrasound abnormality could be detected. Calcification was seen within the gland in association with the cancer in 63% with approximately equal frequency in confined and unconfined disease. The seminal vesicles showed definite evidence of infiltration in 10%. Both seminal vesicles were seen in 61% and thought to be normal. In 8% only one was seen. Failure to demonstrate either seminal vesicle occurred in 21%. There was no correlation between the ultrasound appearances of prostatic cancer and the histological grading of the tumour.     

Thoracic actinomycosis: CT features with histopathologic correlation

OBJECTIVE: Thoracic actinomycosis is a chronic suppurative pulmonary or endobronchial infection caused by Actinomyces israelii, a gram-positive anaerobic organism. We present the CT features of thoracic actinomycosis with histopathologic correlation. CONCLUSION: The typical CT feature of parenchymal actinomycosis is a chronic segmental air-space consolidation containing necrotic low-attenuation areas with frequent cavity formation. A broncholith can be secondarily infected with Actinomyces organisms, resulting in endobronchial actinomycosis. It usually manifests as a proximal endobronchial calcification associated with distal obstructive pneumonia.     

Granulomatous mastitis: imaging findings with histopathologic correlation

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the mammographic and ultrasonographic characteristics of granulomatous mastitis and to correlate the imaging features with the histologic findings. MATERIALS-METHODS: 15 patients with diagnosis of idiopathic granulomatous mastitis were examined with mammography and ultrasonography. The clinical, pathologic and imaging features were retrospectively reviewed and correlated in all patients. RESULTS: Mammographic examination showed an asymmetric density with no distinct margins in 8 patients and an ill-defined mass in 3 patients. In 4 cases, no abnormal finding was detected on the mammography. Sonographic examination demonstrated an irregular mass with tubular connections in 5 patients, single or multiple hypoechoic tubular/nodular structures in 6, and focally or segmentally decreased parenchymal echogenity with acoustic shadowing in 4 patients. The imaging findings suggested a malignant tumor in 7 patients, while an inflammatory process or intraductal papilloma was considered in the differential diagnosis of the other patients. CONCLUSION: Granulomatous mastitis usually presents with clinical findings mimicking a carcinoma. The most common mammographic appearance of the lesion is an asymmetrically increased density, which is not characteristic for this entity. Sonographic patterns of the disease are varied and appear to relate to the histologic features. Findings include a mass-like appearance, tubular/nodular hypoechoic structures and focal decreased parenchmal echogenicity with acoustic shadowing. With awareness of the findings granulomatous mastitis can be considered in the differential diagnosis.     

Sonographic, mammographic, and histopathologic correlation of symptomatic ductal carcinoma in situ

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe the features of symptomatic ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast shown on high-resolution sonography and to correlate them with findings from mammography and histopathology to evaluate the prognostic ability of sonographic findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed mammographic and sonographic images of 60 DCIS lesions from 55 symptomatic women. Images were reviewed by a radiologist who knew that the patients had DCIS but had no other information regarding pathology. Lesions were evaluated pathologically and classified using the Van Nuys classification system. Statistical comparisons were made using Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: Of the 60 lesions, 33 were classified as Van Nuys group 1, 19 as Van Nuys group 2, and eight as Van Nuys group 3. Six (10%) of the 60 lesions were not visible on sonography, and 12 lesions (20%) were not visible on mammography. Sonography revealed a mass in 43 cases (72%), ductal changes in 14 cases (23%), and architectural distortion in four cases (7%). Eight lesions had more than one of these features. A sonographically visualized, irregularly shaped mass with indistinct or angular margins and no posterior acoustic shadowing or enhancement was associated with a high Van Nuys classification (p < 0.05). Microcalcifications were visible on sonography in 13 (22%) of the 60 lesions or on mammography in 25 lesions (42%). Both findings were associated with a high Van Nuys classification (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Although sonography can reveal microcalcifications within masses, it is unreliable in depicting and characterizing the morphology and extent of microcalcifications, particularly when they are in isolation. Therefore, sonography should not be used to replace mammography but instead as an adjunctive tool to increase the sensitivity of mammography in breast diagnosis.     

The abnormal prostate: MR imaging at 1.5 T with histopathologic correlation

Thirteen patients with biopsy-proved adenocarcinoma were prospectively examined with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with use of a 1.5-T superconducting magnet. All patients subsequently underwent radical prostatectomy and careful, axial, histologic mapping of prostatic disease. Histologic findings were recorded on serial, axial diagrams to ensure precise pathologic correlation with the MR images. MR permitted identification of eight of 12 (67%) adenocarcinomas as hypointense foci (relative to the surrounding, higher intensity, peripheral zone); but tumor volume was under-estimated with MR imaging in five of eight cases (63%). Nodules of prostatic hyperplasia were identified correctly in only one of nine patients (11%). These findings suggest that, despite that fact that high field strength MR imaging currently does not depict all pathologic foci within the prostate, it may be of predictive value in the differential diagnosis of prostatic abnormalities when their locations are demonstrable.