[Parametric imaging in breast diagnostics : Computed tomography].

Background: The complementary breast diagnostics (CMD) include the clinical examination, ultrasound, mammography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the breast and the assessment of conspicuous findings by interventional methods.

Objective: In recent years special breast computed tomography (BCT) systems have been developed and the question arises as to what significance this technology has in comparison to the established MRI procedure.

Material and methods: Presentation of the two dedicated BCT systems with different concepts, which are currently commercially available.

Results: In comparison to the Koning® (San Jose, CA, USA) BCT (CBBCT) system there are advantages to the SBCT system from AB-CT® (Erlangen, Germany) such as: 1) direct conversion of the photons at the detector resulting in a reduction of possible data loss, which eliminates an intermediate step as with scintillation imaging, 2) higher resolution, 3) lower patient dose and 4) more precise diagnostics of microcalcification.

Conclusion: Based on the CMD the SBCT system includes the indications for MRI in the assessment and opens up new perspectives in terms of recognition and three-dimensional visualization of microcalcification, which is not possible with MRI. It remains to be seen whether SBCT will complement or replace MRI in the clarification or assessment of findings.