title: Cone beam CT for determining breast cancer margin: an initial experience and its comparison with mammography and specimen radiograph.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the ability of cone beam CT (CBCT) in determining the breast cancer margin using, to compare the results with mammography and specimen radiography, and to explore the clinical potential of CBCT for breast imaging.
  
  
  METHODS
  Specimens of 46 breast cancer patients were imaged by using a prototype CBCT system. Each patient underwent mammography, CBCT and X-ray of breast surgical specimen within 6 months. Images of mammography, breast surgical specimen radiography and CBCT were evaluated by an experienced radiologist. Indicators, such as: morphology, glitch, density, invasion, structural distortion and calcification, were observed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference of the calcification, glitch and morphology among three methods. However, there was significant difference in indicators of breast tumor invasion among three methods. There was statistical significance in detecting invasions of breast cancer cells in peripheral tissues among three methods.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CBCT shows no superiority over mammography and specimen radiography in determining tumor's outline and detecting calcification. On the other hand, CBCT demonstrates its advantage in determining the 3 dimensional position of a lesion which could be a potential clinical application in future practices of breast imaging.
authors.affiliation: The Imaging Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University Urumqi 830054, China.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.affiliation: MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rong
authors.affiliation: The Imaging Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University Urumqi 830054, China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: The Imaging Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University Urumqi 830054, China.
authors.forename: Wenya
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
keywords: Breast cancer margin; breast imaging; cone-beam CT; specimen