Clinical evaluation of computerized tomographic mammography

This is an initial report of the first clinical study using computerized tomographic mammography (CTM). A study is being conducted comparing CTM and conventional mammographic techniques in patients who subsequently undergo breast biopsy. This report analyzes the experience with 160 breast lesions found in patients who were examined using CTM without contrast material. One hundred lesions were benign and 60 were malignant. Mammography correctly identified 54 of the malignant lesions while CTM identified 41. Five lesions were missed by both modalities. The report also analyzes results experienced with 79 lesions found in patients who were examined with CTM both before and after the intravenous injection of contrast material. Forty-six of these lesions were benign and 33 were malignant. Mammography correctly identified 28 of the malignant lesions while CTM identified 27. Only one lesion was missed by both modalities. It is planned to continue this study, especially to enlarge our experience with the use of contrast material in breast scanning.