Mammary nodules as incidental findings on chest computed tomography: a retrospective analysis on their frequency and predictive value

Purpose To evaluate the frequency of mammary nodules as incidental findings on chest CT scans and to determine a correlation between semiological features and mammographic and histopathological outcomes. Methods A total of 42,864 chest CT scans performed on patients with breast-unrelated working diagnoses by the Radiology Department at AOU Maggiore della Carità, between 1st January 2016 and 30th April 2022, were analysed. Sixty-eight patients (3 males and 65 females) with mammary nodule CT detection were selected and subjected to mammography, mammary ultrasound and, eventually, biopsy. Results Thirty-five of the 68 patients received a histopathological confirmation of malignancy. According to Pearson’s Chi-square test, the CT features most likely associated with BI-RADS 5 following mammography were post-contrast enhancement (p = 0.001), margin irregularity (p = 0.0001), nipple retraction (p = 0.001), skin thickening (p = 0.024), and the presence of structurally atypical lymph nodes suspicious for metastatic involvement (p = 0.0001). The CT features predictive of a biopsy positive for malignancy were post-contrast enhancement (p = 0.0001), margin irregularity (p = 0.0001), and the presence of suspicious lymph nodes (p = 0.011). Finally, 63.4% of patients with a working diagnosis related to cancer were diagnosed with breast cancer. Conclusion Chest CT incidental findings of mammary nodules had a 0.21% incidence rate. The accurate description of some CT scan features, such as post-contrast enhancement, margin irregularity, nipple retraction, skin thickening and the presence of structurally atypical lymph nodes, may help to establish a radiological suspicion of malignancy, especially if these characteristics are supported by a working diagnosis of cancer..

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2023

Erschienen:

2023

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:128

Enthalten in:

La Radiologia medica - 128(2023), 8 vom: 04. Juli, Seite 912-921

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Agliata, Maria Francesca [VerfasserIn]
Calabrò, Naomi [VerfasserIn]
Tricca, Stefano [VerfasserIn]
Rampi, Anna Maria [VerfasserIn]
Gambaro, Anna Clelia Lucia [VerfasserIn]
Ferrante, Daniela [VerfasserIn]
Carriero, Alessandro [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext [kostenfrei]

Themen:

Breast cancer
CT scan
Incidental findings
Mammography

Anmerkungen:

© The Author(s) 2023

doi:

10.1007/s11547-023-01670-1

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

OLC2144426481

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