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. 2015 Oct 1;11(4):163-167.
doi: 10.5152/tjbh.2015.2656. eCollection 2015 Oct.

Incidental Breast Lesions Detected on Computed Thorax Tomography

Necdet Poyraz  1 , Ganime Dilek Emlik  1 , Suat Keskin  1 , Havva Kalkan  1
Affiliations

Incidental Breast Lesions Detected on Computed Thorax Tomography

Necdet Poyraz et al. J Breast Health. .

Abstract

Objective: Although mammography is the primary imaging method of the breast, incidental benign and malignant breast lesions are increasingly being detected on computed tomographies (CTs) performed to detect different pathologies. Therefore, the detection and accurate identification of these lesions is important. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the frequency, morphological features, and results of incidental breast lesions on CTs performed for the detection of extramammarian pathologies.

Materials and methods: Incidental breast lesions on CTs performed in our department between 2011 and 2013 were evaluated. Patients who had previously diagnosed breast lesions were excluded from the study. The inclusion criteria were histopathologic diagnose and being followed-up for at least 2 years.

Results: The study population consisted of 33 women whose mean age was 55±1.38 (37-78) years. Of the 33 women, 12 (36%) had malignant and 21 (64%) had benign or normal findings. The most common malignant lesion was invasive ductal carcinoma, and the most common benign lesion was fibroadenoma. Ill-defined contour and lymphadenopathy in malignant lesions and well-defined contour in benign lesions were the most important CT findings.

Conclusion: Breast must be carefully evaluated if it is included in the scans. An accurate report of breast lesions gives an opportunity for early diagnosis and treatment.

Keywords: Computed tomography; breast; incidental findings; thorax.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: No conflict of interest was declared by the authors.

Figures

Figure 1. a, b
Figure 1. a, b
Spiculated contoured left breast mass and lytic lesions compatible with vertebral metastases in the chest CT of a 64-year-old woman (a), the same patient’s mammography image (b). Biopsy showing invasive ductal carcinoma
Figure 2. a, b
Figure 2. a, b
Chest CT showing ill-defined bordered mass compatible with malignancy in the right breast and accompanying axillary lymphadenopathy (a), ultrasound examination with irregular bordered hypoechoic solitary mass (b). Tru-cut biopsy diagnosis is invasive ductal carcinoma
Figure 3. a–c
Figure 3. a–c
CT, mammography and ultrasound images of regular bordered, oval, solid lesion in the right upper outer quadrant of the left breast (a–c). Histopathology result is fibroadenoma
Figure 4
Figure 4
Chest CT revealing focal asymmetric density increase in the upper outer quadrant of the left breast. The lesion arouses suspicion of malignancy with irregular contour and soft tissue density. Control ultrasound examination revealed normal glandular tissue
Figure 5. a–c
Figure 5. a–c
A spiculated contoured irregular mass draws attention in the breast CT and mammography of a 37-year-old patient (a, c). (b) Ultrasound examination of the lesion revealed clusters of many large and small cysts. Biopsy showed fibrocystic changes
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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