Recombined CEM images effective for depicting palpable breast lesions

When it comes to working up palpable breast abnormalities with contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM), recombined images better depict the lesion than low-energy ones, research published November 8 in Academic Radiology has found.The findings shed light on a condition that, although is most commonly benign, can also can be a common presenting symptom of breast cancer, wrote a team led by Tali Amir, MD, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City."As such, a thorough work-up [of palpable breast lesions] to exclude carcinoma must always be performed," the group noted.CEM is a promising technology for this application, the team explained. It consists of a dual-energy digital mammogram performed with iodinated contrast and offers the same anatomic information as a digital mammogram.Amir and colleagues sought to investigate the role CEM could play in the characterization of palpable breast abnormalities via a study that included 237 women with 262 breast irregularities. The women underwent CEM evaluation, which consisted of the acquisition of low-energy images as well as recombined images (which visualize contrast enhancement) followed by targeted ultrasound. Two readers reviewed the exam findings and made BI-RADS assessments based on low-energy images alone; low-energy plus ultrasound images; recombined images with low-energy plus ultrasound images; and recombined images alone. The investigators used pathology or one-year follow-up imaging as the reference standard.Of...
Source: AuntMinnie.com Headlines - Category: Radiology Authors: Tags: Subspecialties Breast Imaging Source Type: news