Imaging of breast cancer-related changes after surgical therapy.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this article is to discuss the surgical treatment of breast cancer and its resultant thoracic CT and multimodality imaging manifestations.


CONCLUSIONS
Many breast cancer patients undergo cross-sectional imaging at some point during or after treatment. Thoracic CT is an important modality performed for staging and surveillance. Thoracic CT examinations often show findings related to patients' surgical or adjuvant treatment. The postsurgical changes visible on thoracic CT may include those related to lumpectomy, mastectomy, breast reconstruction, and axillary surgery. Postsurgical complications may also be seen, including fluid collections, infection, fat necrosis, and lymphedema. Recognition and appropriate interpretation of the posttherapeutic spectrum of findings are important to avoid unnecessary diagnostic imaging and minimize patient anxiety.
1 Department of Radiology, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI.
Colleen H
CH
Neal
Zeynep N
ZN
Yilmaz
Mitra
M
Noroozian
Katherine A
KA
Klein
Baskaran
B
Sundaram
Ella A
EA
Kazerooni
Jadranka
J
Stojanovska
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed