Computed tomography in detection and diagnosis of breast cancer.

From October 1, 1976 through July 31, 1979, at the University of Kansas Medical Center, CT/M examinations were performed on 1625 patients. Seventy-eight cancers were histologically diagnosed. A CT/M study using our contrast medium enhancement technique yields both static anatomical changes and dynamic measurements of abnormal iodide concentrations in the breast cancers. This unique ability of CT/M provides many advantages as compared with conventional mammography in the diagnosis of breast cancer. The detection rate in 78 cancers by CT/M was 94% and 77% for the mammography. The CT/M appears to be specially superior to the mammography for detecting cancers in dense, premenopausal dysplastic breasts. The CT/M can detect totally unsuspected very small breast cancers that were unable to be identified by conventional mammography or physical examinations. The CT/M scan also seems to be a better test for recognizing precancerous high risk lesions. CT/M evaluation affords definitive diagnostic help in instances where the mammographic and/or physical examinations are inconclusive. Although CT/M will not replace conventional mammography in routine breast examinations, it overcomes the limitation of mammography.