This review focuses on the pivotal role of radiotracers in breast cancer imaging, emphasizing their importance in accurate detection, staging, and treatment monitoring. Radiotracers, labeled with radioactive isotopes, are integral to various nuclear imaging techniques, including positron emission tomography (PET) and positron emission mammography (PEM). The most widely used radiotracer in breast cancer imaging is 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG), which highlights areas of increased glucose metabolism, a hallmark of many cancer cells. This allows for the identification of primary tumors and metastatic sites and the assessment of tumor response to therapy. In addition to 18F-FDG, this review will explore newer radiotracers targeting specific receptors, such as estrogen receptors or HER2, which offer more personalized imaging options. These tracers provide valuable insights into the molecular characteristics of tumors, aiding in tailored treatment strategies. By integrating radiotracers into breast cancer management, clinicians can enhance early disease detection, monitor therapeutic efficacy, and guide interventions, ultimately improving patient outcomes. Ongoing research aimed at developing more specific and sensitive tracers will also be highlighted, underscoring their potential to advance precision medicine in breast cancer care.

Supine [18F]Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission technology/computed tomography (PET/CT) is a commonly used modality for the initial staging of breast cancer, and several previous studies have shown superior sensitivity and specificity of prone FDG PET/CT in comparison to its supine counterpart. This retrospective study included 25 females with breast cancer referred for staging. They underwent supine FDG PET/CT followed by prone FDG PET/CT. The outcomes were: number of primary breast lesions, anatomical site of FDG-avid lymph nodes (LNs), and number and type of bone lesions, with SUVmax of all corresponding parameters. Performance was superior in prone acquisition compared to supine acquisition, with the respective results: 29 vs. 22 breast tumor lesions detected, 62 vs. 27 FDG-avid axillary LNs detected, sensitivity of 68% vs. 57%, specificity of 64% vs. 53%. The detection rate of axillary LNs in the prone position was significantly higher (p = 0.001). SUVmax for breast tumor lesions (p = 0.000) and number of detected axillary LNs (p = 0.002) were significantly higher in prone acquisition. Five patients were upstaged after experts read the prone acquisition. Prone FDG PET/CT acquisition is a promising technique in detecting primary breast lesions and metastatic LNs possibly missed in supine acquisition, which may lead to change in patient staging and management.

Background The emigration of highly skilled physicians, or “brain drain,” from lower- to higher-income countries poses major health care system challenges, yet data on Middle East radiology residents are limited. Objective To examine the emigration and retention patterns of radiology residents graduating from a large academic institution in Lebanon. Methods We retrospectively examined graduates of the internationally accredited radiology residency program at the American University of Beirut Medical Center, Lebanon, from 2004 to 2024. Data were collected from departmental records and alumni databases by 2 investigators, supplemented by public sources to corroborate information. For each graduate, we collected sex, nationality, year of graduation, current country of practice, current professional position, and subspecialty training. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate frequencies and percentages, and to examine trends in emigration over time. Results Fifty of the 60 total included radiology graduates (83.3%) left Lebanon post-residency, with most (42 of 60, 70.0%) relocating to the United States. This pattern intensified in recent years, increasing from 55.6% (5 of 9) emigration among the 2004-2008 cohort to 93.3% (14 of 15) and 100% (16 of 16) among the 2017-2020 and 2021-2024 cohorts, respectively. As of 2025, only 10 graduates (16.7%) remained in Lebanon. Conclusions From 2004 to 2024, 83.3% of radiology residency graduates from a major academic program in Lebanon emigrated, with the emigration rate reaching 100% in the most recent cohorts. Most graduates relocated to the United States, and all non-Lebanese graduates also emigrated after completing their training.

Introduction: Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is increasingly being used for staging of patients with breast cancer due to its high sensitivity in detecting additional cancers (ACs). However, the clinical impact of diagnosing and treating these cancers remains unclear.Methods: A retrospective study was undertaken of patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer who underwent staging MRI at The American University of Beirut Medical Centre (AUBMC) between 2012 and 2020. Pathology reports and breast MRI examinations were reviewed. Eighteen breast cancer patients with 19 pathology‐proven index cancers (ICs) and 19 pathology‐proven MRI‐detected ACs were included. Chi‐square and Fisher's exact tests for categorical variables and Wilcoxon signed rank test for numerical variables were used to compare ICs to ACs.Results: The ICs consisted of four ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), 13 invasive ductal carcinomas (IDC), of which five with associated DCIS, and two invasive lobular carcinomas, (ILC) of which one with associated DCIS. ACs comprised 12 DCIS, five IDC, two with associated DCIS and two ILC, one with associated DCIS. Interval cancers were more frequently invasive whereas ACs were more frequently in situ (P = 0.021). ACs were more frequently nuclear grade 2 (P = 0.009). There was no statistically significant difference between ICs and ACs in lesion type (P = 0.062), shape (P = 0.073), initial enhancement (P = 1), delayed enhancement (P = 0.732), hormonal receptor profile (P = 0.68) and Ki67 (P = 0.388). Among ACs, ten (53%) were larger than 10 mm of which five (26%) were invasive cancers, and five (26%) were larger than the ICs.Conclusions: ACs detected by breast MRI were more likely to be in situ and to show a nuclear grade 2. Although not reaching statistical significance, some ACs tend to be clinically significant by their type, size or nuclear grade. The impact on clinical management remains to be determined.

Pattern recognition remains a cornerstone of radiologic interpretation, as it facilitates a confident and comprehensive differential diagnosis. Certain pathologies present with specific and highly recognizable patterns on imaging modalities. These patterns can resemble familiar real-life phenomena, including cosmic bodies that surround us. We present in this article a compilation of radiologic signs across various modalities that take inspiration from cosmic phenomena. For each sign, we summarize its defining imaging appearance, typical clinical context, and common pitfalls; where available, we note diagnostic performance (e.g., sensitivity/specificity) to guide appropriate weighting in practice. By coupling memorable imagery with succinct clinical guidance, this pictorial review aims to support a faster, more accurate pattern recognition that is applicable in both low-resource and tertiary care settings, while recognizing that these signs function as educational aids rather than validated diagnostic tests. In familiarizing themselves with these classic signs, training radiologists can benefit from an engaging and memorable way of recognizing various pathological conditions.