Conspicuity of suspicious breast lesions on contrast enhanced breast CT compared to digital breast tomosynthesis and mammography

Abstract

Unlike conventional two-dimensional (2D) digital mammography (DM) and digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), dedicated breast CT (bCT), an emerging technology, provides fully three-dimensional isotropic image data sets without the need for breast compression. Unenhanced dedicated bCT has been shown in prior studies to be superior to mammography for the detection of masses but not microcalcifications. 1 More recently, contrast-enhanced dedicated bCT (CEbCT) was reported as a potential method for differentiating malignant from benign microcalcifications. 2 Differences in enhancement measured in Hounsfield units (HU), were shown to discriminate benign from malignant calcifications. These results suggest that CEbCT is a potentially quantitative and qualitative modality for differentiating breast cancer from benign lesions including calcifications. As such, CEbCT may improve breast cancer detection as well as reduce the number of false-positive exams that frequently require an invasive procedure for making a definitive diagnosis. DBT uses a modification of digital mammographic technique to reduce the effects of parenchymal superimposition. Large population studies 3,4 have confirmed initial observations of reduced recall rates 5,6 and improved radiologist performance 7,8 as well as increased cancer detection with the addition of DBT to DM compared to DM alone. Several studies support the utility of tomosynthesis as a diagnostic

Dataset of patient‐derived digital breast phantoms for in silico studies in breast computed tomography, digital breast tomosynthesis, and digital mammography

“…Indeed, the volumetric (lateral and depth resolution) rendition of the breast should be assured, which is possible in practice by deriving 3D phantoms from fully 3D examinations as those produced via BCT. 21,[37][38][39][40] However, unlike the widespread utilization of routine examinations in DM and DBT, only,~1000 patients have been scanned with BCT (mainly at UC Davis and University of Rochester medical centers) 31,[41][42][43][44] and for the produced dataset this aspect can affect the representativeness of a large patient population.…”

Suspicious breast lesions incidentally detected on chest computer tomography with histopathological correlation

“…When comparing a dedicated contrast‐enhanced (ce) breast CT scan with mammography, studies have shown that detection rates for malignant lesions were significantly better on contrast‐enhanced breast CT 8 . Microcalcifications were seen better on ce breast CT than on nonenhanced breast CT but similarly on mammography 8,9 . Also, malignant lesions showed a more profound enhancement than benign lesions.…”

Physics and Engineering - Unlocking Doors in Medicine Together

“…Iliya Dyakov 1 , Simona Avramova-Cholakova 2 , James O'Sullivan 2 1 Acibadem City Clinic, Sofia, Bulgaria; 2 Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK Purpose: The purpose of the present study is to compare different methods for effective dose (E) estimation of patients that have undergone several CT examinations with cumulative effective dose (CED) of 100 mSv and above. Material and Methods: Patient data were retrospectively extracted using a dose management software (DMS).…”

“…. [1][2][3] Virtual clinical trials (VCT) are an alternative approach to real clinical trials, capable of producing clinical outcome data as it relates to new imaging technology without the added cost and complexity of real clinical trials. VCT are in-silico reproductions of real examinations, which adopt digital models of patients and simulated apparatuses.…”