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Detection of cancer in augmented breasts by positron emission tomography
1Department of Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Chongno Gu, Korea.
Objective:
To assess the diagnostic efficiency of positron emission tomography with 18-fluorine fluorodeoxyglucose in detecting breast cancer in augmented breasts.
Design:
Retrospective study.
Setting:
University hospital, Korea.
Subject:
9 cases or 8 patients with breasts augmented with paraffin or silicone.
Intervention:
FDG-PET, mammography, and ultrasonography
Results:
The mammogram detected the breast cancer in only 1 of 3 patients, and ultrasonography gave a false positive result in 1 patient with an augmented breast. In contrast, PET predicted all the cancers and 5/6 benign lesions. 2/3 breast cancers had axillary FDG uptake interpreted as showing metastatic involvement, and in 1 case with cancer with no axillary lymph node involvement there was no FDG uptake in the axilla, which correlated with the pathological finding.
Conclusions:
Although the high cost of PET makes its use as a screening test for all patients with augmented breasts unrealistic, it would be the best diagnostic choice if other methods failed.