Postoperative breast cancer surveillance: Can contrast-enhanced spectral mammography solve the diagnostic dilemma?

Abstract

BackgroundFor women worldwide, breast cancer is considered a significant public health concern. The development of enormous changes caused by surgery and irradiation makes diagnosing the postoperative breast a complicated procedure. The current study aimed to detect the additive role of contrast-enhanced spectral mammogram (CESM) to digital mammogram and US in the surveillance of postoperative breast cancer patients.MethodsThis research was conducted on 74 female patients with a prior history of surgery for the treatment of previous breast cancer. All patients had undergone sonomammography and CESM. Benign lesions were followed up, while suspicious lesions were biopsied.ResultsThe current study revealed that CESM can enhance the sensitivity, specificity our overall accuracy of sonomammography in the surveillance of breast cancer patients after surgery.ConclusionAdding CESM to properly selected patients in the surveillance of breast cancer patients after surgical treatment can enhance the diagnostic performance of conventional imaging modalities.