Research Spotlight: Dr. Shahine Goulam-Houssein
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and to raise awareness of the crucial role radiologists and breast imagers play in detection and treatment of breast cancers, Medical Imaging is shining the Research Spotlight on its Breast Imaging Division, including the third place Best Oral Presentation from Dr. Shahine Goulam-Houssein.
Dr. Goulam-Houssein, a Women’s Imaging Fellow at St. Michael’s Hospital, worked under the supervision of Dr. Vivianne Freitas, JDMI, to explore the implications of persistent T1-weighted lesions without concurrent abnormal enhancement on breast MRI performed in patients with biopsy-proven breast cancer after treatment with neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
After retrospectively reviewing 319 patients with breast cancer, Dr. Goulam-Houssein found that a T1 persistent lesion without associated abnormal enhancement on post-treatment breast MRI indicated a reduced likelihood of complete pathological response – 14 per cent versus 39 per cent – and imaging response – 69 per cent versus 93 per cent.
“What we found was the presence of a T1 persistent lesion is associated with a statistically significant lower rate of complete pathological response,” Dr. Goulam-Houssein explains. “This finding holds substantial implications for patient care, as it dictates the extent of surgical intervention – possible necessitating larger lumpectomies, wider margins, or mastectomy – to address these legions during post-neoadjuvent chemotherapy (NAC) surgical interventions.”
Dr. Goulam-Houssein interest in breast imaging comes in part from her mentor, Dr. Belinda Curpen, who she worked with during a breast rotation at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in PGY3 (post-graduate year three), and in part from the many aspects of imaging integrated into breast imaging.
“When working with my mentor, Dr. Curpen, I saw firsthand the positive impact she had on her patients, colleagues, and trainees,” Dr. Goulam-Houssein says. “On top of that, I have enjoyed how breast imaging utilizes multiple imaging modalities, a wide range of interventional procedures, and the opportunity to contribute to a multidisciplinary team, working closely with breast surgeons, pathologists, oncologists, and others.”
Looking forward, Dr. Goulam-Houssein is excited about research around incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) based algorithms into medical imaging, including merging multi-parametric MRI pulse sequences with clinicopathological data. “That research could potentially pave the way for differentiating responders from non-responders to neoadjuvant systemic treatments in the near future. It’s a very exciting prospect.”