Role of contrast-enhanced mammogram as an adjunct to tomosynthesis in evaluation of circumscribed breast lesions.

Objectives: We evaluated the role of contrast-enhanced mammogram (CEM) in the characterization of circumscribed lesions detected in digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) and correlated with histopathology.

Methods: A retrospective study was done on 205 circumscribed breast masses detected with DBT and for whom CEM was done before core biopsy/excision biopsy. Morphology of lesion enhancement was noted at a 2-min CEM image and depending on the enhancement pattern, they were classified as benign, malignant, and indeterminate. Indeterminate lesions were further characterized by contrast kinetics at 8 min and divided into benign and malignant lesions. The results were correlated with histopathology reports.

Results: Among the 205 lesions, 158 were benign and 47 were malignant by histopathology. All 47 malignant cases were diagnosed as malignant (sensitivity-100%) and 150 out of 158 benign lesions were diagnosed as benign by CEM (specificity-95%). Eight benign lesions were reported as malignant (false positive) by CEM. Positive predictive value was 85.4% (47/55); negative predictive value (NPV) was 100% (150/150); accuracy was 96% (197/205).

Conclusions: The high sensitivity of CEM in our study suggests that CEM helps in the early diagnosis of benign-looking circumscribed breast malignancies. The high NPV of CEM helps to avoid unnecessary biopsies and interventions in benign lesions.

Advances in knowledge: This study describes the contrast enhancement pattern of benign and malignant circumscribed breast lesions and thereby helps in the diagnosis of malignancy at an early stage. CEM is a promising adjunct tool since it offers functional imaging as a supplement to anatomical imaging by DBT.