An application study of low-dose computed tomography perfusion imaging (LDCTPI) in breast cancer and breast fibroadenoma

PURPOSE: To explore the characteristics of breast cancer and breast fibroadenoma using low-dose computed tomography perfusion imaging (LDCTPI) including specific perfusion parameter values, and seek the potential clinical applications in cancer prognosis assessment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty patients including 30 diagnosed with breast cancer and 20 with breast fibroadenoma, as well as 15 control subjects with normal breasts were studied prospectively using LDCTPI examinations. The acquired volumetric imaging data were used for calculation, mapping and analysis by using a body tumor perfusion protocol in the CT perfusion software to measure 4 parameters: blood flow (BF), blood volume (BV), mean transit time (MTT), and the permeability surface (PS) area product. Statistical data analysis was then performed to distinguish the difference of the 4 parameter values among normal control, breast cancer and breast fibroadenoma cases. RESULTS: The mean perfusion values of 15 normal controls were as follows: BF, 20.03 +/- 4.08 mL/100 g/min; BV, 4.53 +/- 0.95 mL/100 g; MTT, 5.90 +/- 0.82 s; and PS, 9.25 +/- 1.18 mL/100 g/min. The mean perfusion values of 30 cancer patients were as follows: BF, 56.67 +/- 6.59 mL/100 g/min; BV, 5.82 +/- 0.68 mL/100 g; MTT, 6.01 +/- 0.82 s; and PS, 24.95 +/- 5.05 mL/100 g/min. The mean perfusion values of 20 patients with breast fibroadenoma were as follows: BF, 46.24 +/- 6.65 mL/100 g/min; BV, 5.07 +/- 0.73 mL/100 g; MTT, 7.51 +/- 0.62 s; and PS, 16.73 +/- 6.48 mL/100 g/min. Comparing the 3 groups, differences were all statistically significant for BF, BV, MTT and PS values (p < 0.05, respectively); The BF, BV, PS values were highest in group of cancer patients, while the MTT value was highest in group of patients diagnosed with breast fibroadenoma. CONCLUSION: Breast CT perfusion imaging is a promising functional imaging technology in breast cancer diagnosis, which can provide valuable quantitative imaging markers to assist evaluation of breast tumors.