Dynamic helical CT of breast tumors

The purpose of our study was to test dynamic helical CT (hCT) in the evaluation of breast tumors.

Thirty-six patients with 39 suspected lesions underwent breast hCT before and 1, 3, and 8 min after intravenous contrast medium administration. A marked enhancement (> or = 100%) at 1 or 3 min without increase at 8 minutes was considered as the primary indicator for malignancy. Twenty carcinomas, one metastatic non-Hodgkin lymphoma, six fibroadenomas, and six other benign findings were histologically assessed. Six cases had negative fine needle aspiration cytology and at least a 2 year negative follow-up.

hCT showed a 100% sensitivity and 83.3% specificity. Considering carcinomas and fibroadenomas, significant differences were found for the percent enhancement at 1 min (p = 0.002) as well as for the density increase or decrease at 3 versus 1 min (p = 0.0035), at 8 versus 1 min (p = 0.0027), and at 8 versus 3 min (p = 0.0180).

hCT proved to have a high diagnostic efficacy in evaluating breast tumors. Even though it involves some exposure to radiation, it should be considered in patients in whom MR is contraindicated.