Aims and objectives
Breast density is routinely assessed on mammography using the Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System (BIRADS) classification,
known as an independent risk factor to predict breast cancer risk.
CT thorax performed for other clinical reasons includes the breasts as well,
and it is capable of calculating densities in the breasts.
Hence,
a CT-BIRADS classification was developed.
This study evaluated if the CT-BIRADS classification was well-correlated with the mammographic BIRADS classification.
Methods and materials
In this retrospective study concerning two age groups,
35 women (40-49 years) and 144 women (50-69 years) were included.
All patients underwent a CT thorax and a mammographic exam within a 12-month period.
Patients were asymptomatic concerning breast disease and had no history of breast cancer or biopsy.
Breast density was scored on mammograms according to BIRADS.
On CT Thorax,
breast density was measured with a treshold of 50 HU (two-compartment model separating glandular tissue and fatty tissue) after applying a semi-automated segmenting method (Syngo...
Results
Pearson correlation in the age group 40-49 years was 0.786,
and in the age group 50-69 years was 0.574.
These results are suggestive of a moderately to highly positive correlation between the mammographic BIRADS and the CT-BIRADS grades.
Conclusion
CT-BIRADS scores were moderately to highly correlated with the mammographic BIRADS scores.
CT-BIRADS classification should be further studied to define its role in predicting breast cancer risk.
As a future perspective,
CT-BIRADS results gathered from CT thorax exams performed for other diagnostic reasons could clinically be important to identify women that will benefit from a screening mammography program.
References
American cancer society.
(2016,
June 1).
Breast cancer risk and prevention.
American cancer society: https://www.cancer.org
American College of Radiology.
(2013).
Mammography.
In ACR BI-RADS ATLAS (pp.
121-140).
Boyd NF,
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J.
(1995).
Quantitative classification of mammographic densities and breast cancer risk: results from the Canadian National Breast Screening Study .
J Natl Cancer Inst,
87:670-675.
G.
J.
Bansal,
S.
(2014).
How does semi-automated computer-derived CT measure of breast density compare with subjective assessments to assess mean glandular breast density,
in patients with brest cancer? Br...