title: Role of multidetector computed tomography in evaluating incidentally detected breast lesions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Computed tomography (CT) does not represent the primary method for the evaluation of breast lesions; however, it can detect breast abnormalities, even when performed for other reasons related to thoracic structures. The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential benefits of 320-row multidetector CT (MDCT) in evaluating and differentiating incidentally detected breast lesions by using vessel probe and 3D analysis software with net enhancement value.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-two breast lesions in 46 patients who underwent 320-row chest CT examination were retrospectively evaluated. CT scans were assessed searching for the presence, location, number, morphological features, and density of breast nodules. Net enhancement was calculated by subtracting precontrast density from the density obtained by postcontrast values. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and diagnostic accuracy of CT were calculated for morphological features and net enhancement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty of 62 lesions were found to be malignant at histological examination and 32 were found to be benign. When morphological features were considered, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, PPV, and NPV of CT were 87%, 100%, 88%, 100%, and 50%, respectively. Based on net enhancement, CT reached a sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, PPV, and NPV of 100%, 94%, 97%, 94%, and 100%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MDCT allows to recognize and characterize breast lesions based on morphological features. Net enhancement can be proposed as an additional accurate feature of CT.
authors.affiliation: Section of Diagnostic Imaging, Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Aldo Moro University of Bari Medical School, Bari - Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moschetta
authors.forename: Arnaldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scardapane
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lorusso
authors.forename: Leonarda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rella
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Telegrafo
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Serio
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Angelelli
authors.forename: Amato Antonio Stabile
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Ianora
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity