Successful use of multi-detector row computed tomography for detecting contralateral breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
We retrospectively evaluated whether multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT) could contribute to the early detection of contralateral breast cancer in women with a diagnosis of breast cancer and no suspicious lesions on a mammogram or an ultrasonogram of the contralateral breast.


METHODS
A total of 518 women with newly diagnosed unilateral breast cancer underwent MDCT. Multi-detector row CT was performed using a 16-detector row CT scanner set for 2-mm collimation, 120 kilovolt (peak), and 180 mA. Axial images of the contralateral breast were evaluated.


RESULTS
Four hundred fifty-nine women were eligible for this study. There were suspicious malignant lesions only on MDCT in 21. Multi-detector row CT contributed to the diagnosis of contralateral occult breast cancer in 12 women (2.6%), including 1 in whom breast cancer was later diagnosed at another institution.


CONCLUSIONS
Multi-detector row CT has a potential role in detecting contralateral breast cancer in women who are at high risk.
Department of Surgery, Kawaguchi Municipal Medical Center, Kawaguchi City, Saitama, Japan. satokon@m2.gyao.ne.jp
Satoko
S
Nakano
Haruko
H
Sakamoto
Masahiko
M
Ohtsuka
Akemi
A
Mibu
Masato
M
Karikomi
Hitomi
H
Sakata
Masahiro
M
Yamamoto
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional