Objective To analyze the clinical value of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) compared with digital mammography (DM) and ultrasound for diagnosing non-calcified masses in dense breasts.Methods Images taken with DBT,DM and ultrasound of 1144 patients with non-calcified masses in dense breasts were retrospectively analyzed using breast imaging reporting and data system (BI-RADS).Taking histopathologic results as golden standards,the detection rate and diagnostic accuracy,sensitivity,specificity,false negative and BI-RADS category were evaluated and compared statistically.Results The detection rate of DBT,DM and ultrasound for non-calcified massed in dense breasts was 86.62％ (991/1 144),77.80％ (890/1 144) and 99.65％ (1 140/1 144),respectively (P＜0.05),while the diagnostic accuracy was 83.92％ (960/1 144),75.00％ (858/1 144) and 94.67％ (1 083/1 144),respectively (P＜0.01).The sensitivity of DBT,DM and ultrasound was 89.39％ (312/349),79.93％ (231/289) and 92.70％ (432/466),the specificity was 81.51％ (648/795),73.33％ (627/855) and 96.02％ (651/678),while the false negative rate was 10.60％(37/349),20.07％ (58/289) and 7.30％ (34/466),respectively.No significant difference was found for benign lesions among three examination methods (P=0.75),while there was significant difference for malignant lesions among three examination methods (P＜0.01),and the differences of ultrasonography with DM and DBT,DBT and DM in the for BI-RADS category of malignant lesions were statistically significant (all P＜0.016 7).Conclusion For suspected masses in dense breasts,DBT shows significant advantage than DM,while DBT has the similar advantage compared with ultrasound for the detection and diagnosis of non-calcified masses in dense breasts.

Objective To investigate the differential diagnostic value of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT for benign and malignant vertebral compression fractures in patients with malignant tumor.Methods From August 2007 to July 2016,79 patients with vertebral compression fractures were enrolled.Patients were divided into 3 groups based on clinical follow-up or pathological results:osteoporosis group (n =40;13 males,27 females,median age:77 years),metastasis group (n=27;18 males,9 females,median age:64 years) and myeloma group (n=12;7 males,5 females,median age:67.5 years).Characteristics of 18 F-FDG PET/CT imaging and maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of involved vertebrae were compared using x2 test,one-way analysis of variance and the least significant difference t test.SUVmax of normal L2 vertebral body was regarded as the control.Results (1) There were 53,41 and 16 compression fractures identified in osteoporosis group,metastasis group and myeloma group,respectively.No paravertebral soft tissue mass or spinal accessory involvement was found in osteoporosis group.In metastasis group,14(34.15％,14/41) paravertebral soft tissue masses and 28 spinal accessory involvements (68.29％,28/41) were detected,and the numbers were 2 (2/16) and 16 (16/16) for myeloma group respectively.There were significant differences for paravertebral soft tissue masses and spinal accessory involvements among 3 groups (x2 values:21.75,73.10,both P＜0.01).(2)In osteoporosis group,all lesions displayed strip-like (100％,53/53) 18F-FDG accumulation.In metastasis group,there were nodular accumulation (12.20％,5/41),bulk accumulation (43.90％,18/41),and irregular accumulation (43.90％,18/41).In myeloma group,the 18 F-FDG accumulation were strip-like (14/16) and irregular (2/16).The accumulation patterns among 3 groups were significantly different (x2=103.67,P＜0.01).(3)SUVmax of osteoporosis group,metastasis group,myeloma group and control group was 4.00±0.14,7.33±4.05,4.17±0.39 and 2.33±0.06,respectively (F=46.45,P＜0.01).The SUVmax between each 2 groups were significant (t values:12.38-29.51,all P＜0.05) except for that between osteoporosis group and myeloma group (t=0.26,P＞0.05).Conclusions Strip-like 18F-FDG accumulation,SUVmax of vertebral body,paravertebral soft tissue masses and spinal accessory involvements in 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging are important for differential diagnosis of benign and malignant compression fractures.

Objective To measure anatomic data related to the thyroid cartilage and cricoid cartilage and to analyze their implications for anterior spine surgery.Methods From January 2015 to February 2017,Cervical spine CT image data of 309 normal adults (195 males,114 females) in our department were retrospectively analyzed.The transverse diameters of the thyroid cartilage and the cricoid cartilage was measured at three different levels as follows:the superior border of the thyroid cartilage(SBTC),the inferior border of the thyroid cartilage(IBTC),and the inferior border of the cricoid cartilage(IBCC).At those levels,the corresponding level and transverse diameter of the cervical vertebra or intervertebral disc were also determined.Differences of anatomic parameters for each gender and level,and the relationship between the transverse diameter and height and weight were analyzed.Results The transverse diameters of the thyroid cartilage or cricoid cartilage and the corresponding cervical vertebra or intervertebral disc were associated significantly with height and weight.The transverse diameters of the thyroid cartilage or cricoid cartilage gradually decreased from the level of SBTC (44.30±4.97 mm) to the level of IBTC (41.39±4.62 mm),and the latter to the level of IBCC (26.36±3.79 mm),but increased from the level of SBTC (27.47±2.66 mm) to the level of IBTC (29.00±3.15 mm),and the latter to the level of IBCC (31.48±3.49 mm) for the cervical vertebra or intervertebral disc.Differences of the transverse diameters of the thyroid cartilage or cricoid cartilage and the cervical vertebra or intervertebral disc on three levels had statistical significance.The transverse diameters of each level had individual differences,while men were greater than those for women.The thyroid cartilage was routinely located above the C5 (56.9％ for male,86.0％ for female).Differences of the frequency between men and women on three levels had statistical significance.Conclusion The Individual and sex differences in the location of the thyroid cartilage and the size of the thyroid cartilage and the cricoid cartilage provided anatomical basis for predicting the difficulty of intraoperative exposure,incidence of esophageal injuries and early postoperative dysphagia.

Objective To investigate the effective indicators for the prognosis assessment in pa?tients with multiple myeloma (MM) by 18F?FDG PET/CT imaging. Methods A total of 36 patients(22 males, 14 females;median age 63.5 years) with MM confirmed by clinical or pathology from July 2007 to November 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. The number of lesions detected by PET/CT, the number of lesions with SUVmax>2.5, the SUVmax and MTV of each lesion were calculated. The correlation analysis was performed between the number of lesions detected by PET or CT,the number of lesions with SUVmax>2.5, the SUVmax , MTV and serumβ2?microglobulin (β2?M) , respectively. The patients were divided into differ?ent groups according to the development of lesions and the survival situation during the follow?up ( 4-92 months) . Kaplan?Meier analysis and multivariate Cox model were used to analyze the prognostic significance of the number of lesions detected by PET or CT and the number of lesions with SUVmax>2.5, the SUVmax and MTV. Results Both the number of lesions with SUVmax>2. 5 and MTV showed positive correlations with blood β2?M (r=0.776, 0.954, both P<0.001), while the number of lesions detected by PET/CT and SUVmax were not correlated with β2?M ( r=0.053, 0.063, 0.398, all P>0.05) . The number of lesions with SUVmax>2.5 and MTV in the progressive group( n=14) were significantly higher than those in the regressive group(n=22):66.57±4.59 vs 31.95±4.75, t=4.95, P<0.001;(287.54±31.94) cm3 vs (72.17±14.35) cm3, t=6.93, P<0.001. The number of lesions with SUVmax>2.5 and MTV were significantly higher in the dead group(n=15) than those in the survival group(n=21):65.73±4.32 vs 30.90±4.87, t=5.10, P<0?001;(267.28±34.89) cm3 vs (76.39±15.67) cm3, t=5.49, P<0.001. The best cutoff values for predicting pro?gression?free survival and overall survival were both 42 for the number of lesions with SUVmax>2. 5, and those were 114.74 and 105.48 cm3 for MTV, respectively. The progression?free survival rate was worse in the patients with higher index than those with lower value (χ2=18.20, 29.74, both P<0.001) , and the same re?sult was also seen for the overall survival rate (χ2=19.07, 25.34, both P<0.001) . Conclusion The number of lesions with SUVmax>2.5 and MTV on 18 F?FDG PET/CT images could predict the progression?free survival and overall survival rates of patients with MM, which may provide accurate prognosis information.