Dynamic helical CT of breast tumors.
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.
Sardanelli
F
F
Department of Radiology, University of Genoa School of Medicine, San Martino Hospital, Italy.
Calabrese
M
M
Zandrino
F
F
Melani
E
E
Parodi
R
R
Imperiale
A
A
Massa
T
T
Parodi
G
G
Canavese
G
G
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*
D003287:Contrast Media