The latest medical research on Breast

Assessment of breast volume has a relevance for aesthetic surgery and for the prevention and prediction of breast diseases. This study investigated breast volume measurements using a three-dimensional (3D) body surface scanner integrated in a smartphone device in comparison with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.

Breast volume was assessed for 22 women who underwent routine MRI imaging. 3D surface images were acquired using a smartphone's digital texture camera (iPhone 11 Pro Max, Apple, California, USA, 2019). Breast volumes were manually outlined and calculated by two independent investigators using a 3D software tool (Meshmixer 3.5, Autodesk, Inc., 2018). Volume assessments from MRI images were performed by a radiologist using Syngo.via (Siemens Healthcare, Erlangen, Germany, VB50). The agreement between both methods and the inter-observer agreement was calculated with the concordance correlation coefficients and analysed with Bland-Altman plots.

The mean breast volume as determined by MRI volumetry was 771.0 ml on the left side and 763.9 ml on the right side. Utilizing the 3D body surface volume assessment method, the mean breast volume was measured as 660.3 ml (observer A) and 616.8 ml (observer B) on the left side, and 701.9 ml (observer A) and 638.6 ml (observer B) on the right side. Although a high correlation was observed, differences in volume measurements appeared more pronounced in cases of larger breast volume.

Smartphone-based 3D assessment of breast volume sufficiently agreed with MRI-based breast volume. This new technique could be used for cosmetic breast assessments in a surgical context and possibly in breast cancer risk studies assessing breast volume as outcome parameters.

Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are among the most popular contraceptive methods globally due to their convenience and cost-effectiveness. However, improper placement can lead to complications such as device migration and uterine perforation, with increased risk observed when IUDs are implanted within four to six weeks postpartum. Typically, patients are asymptomatic or experience mild lower abdominal discomfort or minor abnormal vaginal bleeding following IUD displacement. Advances in diagnostic techniques have resulted in an increased reporting of uterine perforations due to IUD migration. Although rare, secondary stone formation following IUD perforation has been noted. In 2023, cases of IUD perforation were reported in women with a history of multiple cesarean sections and in a young woman without detailed marital history.

The 43-year-old patient, who had an IUD inserted three years prior, exhibited symptoms of frequent urination and painful urination unrelieved by anti-infective and analgesic treatments. The patient underwent cystotomy for foreign body removal, which revealed the IUD had perforated the uterus and bladder, with both arms of the device invaded into bladder wall and covered with concentric stone layers. Complete removal of the IUD and surrounding stones, followed by suturing and postoperative anti-infection analgesic treatment, led to significant symptom improvement.

This case underscores the importance of regular IUD check-ups to prevent uterine perforation and the necessity of considering IUD migration in patients presenting with lower urinary tract symptoms without routine IUD examination. While self-examination by the patient through the strings in the vagina is possible, imaging studies are also indispensable. Surgery has proven to be an effective solution for such complications, but cystoscopy is not always the best option, and the decision to perform open surgery should be based on the patient's perforation and the condition of the surrounding tissues. This paper emphasizes the need for vigilance and proper clinical management.

To evaluate the association between Composite Dietary Antioxidant Index (CDAI) and the risk of endometriosis in American women.

The study adopted a cross-sectional design, incorporating 3862 women aged over 20 years, selected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) dataset from 2001 to 2006. Six dietary antioxidants were taken into account in calculating CDAI. Endometriosis was determined based on self-report. To evaluate the association between CDAI and the risk of endometriosis, we employed models with multivariable logistic variables. For subgroup assessment in relation to CDAI, a stratified multivariate logistic regression model was utilized.

Among all participants, 273 participants (7.1%) were found to exhibit endometriosis. The preliminary analysis showed a reverse association between CDAI and the likelihood of endometriosis (odds ratio [OR] = 0.95; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.92~0.98). Upon full adjustment within the multivariable logistic regression, the ORs (95% CI) for endometriosis prevalence per unit increase in CDAI were estimated to be 0.96 (0.93~1). When the CDAI levels were divided into quartiles, it was found that the ORs for endometriosis with CDAI levels in Q2 (-2.131-0.023), Q3 (0.023-2.650), and Q4 (2.650-42.854) were 0.74 (0.52, 1.05), 0.76 (0.53, 1.1), and 0.53 (0.36, 0.79), respectively, compared to those with CDAI levels in Q1 (-7.151--2.131). We evaluated the association between CDAI and endometriosis using subgroups stratified by age, race/ethnicity, education level, body mass index (BMI), oral contraceptive, and menopausal status, revealing a substantial negative relationship.

In this cross-sectional study, increasing CDAI was proportionally associated with a reduced risk of endometriosis among American women, suggesting a diet high in antioxidants may play an important role in reducing the risk of endometriosis. The findings of NHANES data spanning 2001 to 2006 suggest that promoting antioxidant-rich diets could be an important prevention strategy for endometriosis.