The role of computed tomography in the selection of breast cancer treatment

• Published in: Breast cancer (Tokyo, Japan) Vol. 10; no. 3; pp. 198 - 203
• Main Authors: Akashi-Tanaka, Sadako, Fukutomi, Takashi, Sato, Natsuko, Miyakawa, Kunihisa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan 31-07-2003
• Subjects: Breast Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Breast Neoplasms - therapy; Female; Humans; Lymphatic Metastasis - diagnostic imaging; Predictive Value of Tests; Tomography, X-Ray Computed - standards
• ISSN: 1340-6868; 1880-4233
• DOI: 10.1007/bf02966718

Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT) is one of the most sensitive imaging modalities. CE-CT plays a role in the following: (1) to determine the extent of breast cancer to select the appropriate breast conserving treatment (BCT). The sensitivity and specificity for the detection of extensive intraductal component (EIC) by CE-CT were 82-88% and 75-89%, respectively. The pathological extent of tumors significantly correlated with the extension revealed by CE-CT; (2) to determine the extent of resection following neoadjuvant chemotherapy, which is difficult to assess by other modalities; (3) to diagnose axillary lymph node metastasis. The sensitivity and specificity are 79-90% and 70-89%, respectively; (4) to identify occult breast cancer with axillary metastasis and to diagnose local recurrence after BCT.