Contrast Enhanced Digital Mammography: Does it Add to Conventional Mammography?,NOHA ABDELSHAFY ELSAID and AMIRA RAAFAT
Abstract
Background: Contrast Enhanced Digital Mammography (CEDM) is a recent development of digital mammography using the intra-venous injection of an iodinated contrast agent in conjunction with a mammography examination. CEDM should result in a simple way to enhance the detection and the characterization of breast lesions especially in dense breasts.
Aim of Work: To investigate the potential of using intra-venous contrast material with full-field digital mammography to facilitate the detection and characterization of lesions in the breast.
Subjects and Methods: The study included 26 Egyptian patients (Age ranged from 37 to 62 years, mean = 49.5 years) who came to the National Cancer Institute presenting by breast lump or coming for follow-up after treatment or for screening (high risk patient). They underwent both conventional mam-mography and high energy post contrast digital mammography.
Results: The cases presented were 13 malignant and 4 benign, the malignant lesions were 10 intra ductal carcinoma (IDC) and 3 lobular carcinoma (from them five post chemo-therapy cases) and the benign lesions were 3 fibroadenomas and one papilloma). One IDC case showed also fibroadenoma. Three cases showed just areas of architectural distortion, two cases presented by breast lumps in a dense breast and proved to be simple cysts, and five cases with post operative paren-chymal distortion showed no recurrent masses.
Conclusion: Dual-energy contrast-enhanced digital mam-mography is a useful technique in identification of lesions in mammographically dense breasts and capable of demonstrating lesions that are not visible at standard mammography.
CEDM is useful in follow-up of cases after surgery and monitoring lesion size after chemotherapy.