Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the usefulness of computed tomographic (CT) imaging in delineating tumor extent and guiding surgical management.
Background: The routine use of preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a controversial issue in breast cancer management. Negative studies with regard to the utility of MRI might be due to differences in positioning during imaging and subsequent surgery.
Methods: Candidates for breast-conserving surgery were eligible for the study. The surgeons marked the line of planned excision on the skin, which was also recorded on the CT image. Contrast-enhanced breast CT was performed in the supine surgical position. The CT results were used to help determine the extent of resection. The pathological findings were then compared with the CT-guided surgical plans.
Results: A total of 297 patients were involved. The surgeons widened the extent of resection in 42 (14.1%, 95% confidence interval 10.1%-18.1%) patients on the basis of the CT findings. Among the 6 patients whose procedures were changed to mastectomy, 4 had pathologically multicentric tumors and 2 had widely spread intraductal components. The remaining 36 patients underwent quadrantectomy instead of wide excision on the basis of the CT images. There were 3 patients in whom conversion from wide excision to quadrantectomy resulted in overexcision. Preoperative breast CT may have reduced the positive margin rate and also correctly changed the extent of surgery in 13.1% of patients.
Conclusions: This prospective study suggests that breast CT, carried out in the supine position, is useful in the preoperative determination of the optimal surgical procedure.