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Detection of incidental breast tumors by noncontrast spiral computed tomography of the chest

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of breast tumors and breast cancers with noncontrast spiral chest computed tomography (CT).

Material and methods

A clinical study was conducted to evaluate findings in the mammary region of 1008 consecutive patients with no mammary symptoms or signs who underwent noncontrast spiral CT of the chest from April 2003 to March 2006.

Results

Six cases of breast abnormality were detected among the 1008 women. Three were primary breast cancers, one was metastatic breast cancer, and two were benign tumors. All four breast cancer patients were over 70 years old. The characteristics of the tumor margins on CT scans corresponded to the mammography and ultrasonography findings. The mammographic background density ranged from inhomogeneous high-density breast to fatty breast. The detection rate of primary breast cancer by noncontrast spiral CT was 0.30%.

Conclusion

Noncontrast spiral chest CT occasionally detects nonsymptomatic breast cancers, especially in elderly patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan

    Hiroko Shojaku & Hikaru Seto

  2. Department of Radiology, Sakurai Hospital, Toyama, Japan

    Hiroko Shojaku, Hikaru Seto & Hisakazu Iwai

  3. Department of Radiology, Himekawa Hospital, Niigata, Japan

    Hiroko Shojaku & Hikaru Seto

  4. Department of Surgery, Himekawa Hospital, Niigata, Japan

    Shinji Kitazawa

  5. Department of Surgery, Toyama City Hospital, Toyama, Japan

    Wataru Fukushima

  6. Department of Pathology, Toyama City Hospital, Toyama, Japan

    Katsuhiko Saito

Authors
  1. Hiroko Shojaku
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  2. Hikaru Seto
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  3. Hisakazu Iwai
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  4. Shinji Kitazawa
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  5. Wataru Fukushima
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  6. Katsuhiko Saito
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hiroko Shojaku.

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Shojaku, H., Seto, H., Iwai, H. et al. Detection of incidental breast tumors by noncontrast spiral computed tomography of the chest. Radiat Med 26, 362–367 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11604-008-0241-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11604-008-0241-z

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