title: Costs associated with evaluation of incidental breast lesions identified on computed tomography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to calculate the costs associated with the evaluation of breast incidentalomas (BI) identified on CT.
  
  
  METHODS
  All CT scans of the thorax performed at the radiological department of the University Hospital of the Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg between the years 2006 and 2014 were reanalysed retrospectively. 111 patients with BI were identified. The radiological and clinical reports of these cases were examined, and the costs of all further diagnostic procedures performed to clarify the detected BI were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 31 (27.9%) of the 111 patients, BI were not further investigated. Of the remaining 80 (72.1%) cases of BI, primary breast carcinoma was diagnosed in 10 (12.5%) cases, breast involvement by lymphoma in 7 (8.8%) cases, intramammary metastases in 19 (23.7%) cases and different benign findings in 44 (55.0%) cases. The total costs associated with clarification of BI in our institution (n = 53) amounted to €14,045.71. The costs per BI were €265.01 and per newly identified breast cancer €1560.63.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Breast lesions incidentally detected on CT should be categorized as major incidental findings because of the high frequency of malignancy. The radiologist should carefully evaluate the breast on CT images and all identified BI should be clarified. The clarification of BI is associated with a low economic burden in comparison with screening programmes for primary breast cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The radiologist should carefully evaluate the breast on CT and all identified BI should be clarified. The evaluation of BI is associated with a low economic burden.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany.
authors.forename: Dominik
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schramm
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany.
authors.forename: Cholpan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jasaabuu
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Bach
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Controlling, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany.
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tennstedt
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany.
authors.forename: Rolf P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Spielmann
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Surov
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000191:economics*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008297:Male; D008327:Mammography / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000191:economics*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media