title: Dynamic helical CT of breast tumors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of our study was to test dynamic helical CT (hCT) in the evaluation of breast tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six patients with 39 suspected lesions underwent breast hCT before and 1, 3, and 8 min after intravenous contrast medium administration. A marked enhancement (> or = 100%) at 1 or 3 min without increase at 8 minutes was considered as the primary indicator for malignancy. Twenty carcinomas, one metastatic non-Hodgkin lymphoma, six fibroadenomas, and six other benign findings were histologically assessed. Six cases had negative fine needle aspiration cytology and at least a 2 year negative follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  hCT showed a 100% sensitivity and 83.3% specificity. Considering carcinomas and fibroadenomas, significant differences were found for the percent enhancement at 1 min (p = 0.002) as well as for the density increase or decrease at 3 versus 1 min (p = 0.0035), at 8 versus 1 min (p = 0.0027), and at 8 versus 3 min (p = 0.0180).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  hCT proved to have a high diagnostic efficacy in evaluating breast tumors. Even though it involves some exposure to radiation, it should be considered in patients in whom MR is contraindicated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Genoa School of Medicine, San Martino Hospital, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sardanelli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calabrese
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zandrino
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Melani
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Parodi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Imperiale
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Massa
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Parodi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Canavese
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D000075202:Contraindications; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D018226:Fibroadenoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008327:Mammography; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media