The Research Progress of Cone-Beam Breast Computed Tomography in Clinical Application

Cone-beam breast computed tomography (CBBCT) is a specialized imaging modality for breast examination that can generate high-resolution three-dimensional images with 3D isotropic resolution. This method has high sensitivity and better displays breast cancer lesions and microcalcifications, especially in the dense breast. When combined with CBBCT plain and enhanced scans, the efficiency of diagnosis and treatment can be further improved. Enhanced CT scans provide a better display of the morphological characteristics of tumor lesions, surrounding tissues, and blood vessels, thereby providing more comprehensive diagnostic information. The imaging manifestations of breast cancer on CBBCT are closely related to the molecular subtypes and immunohistochemical receptor status of the tumor. By incorporating imaging characteristics, the molecular subtypes, and the status of immunohistochemical receptors of breast cancer, the diagnosis and evaluation of the disease can be predicted and assessed accurately. In recent years, CBBCT has shown great potential in the diagnosis and evaluation of breast cancer. This article provides a review of the operational characteristics of cone beam breast CT and the recent research progress in the diagnosis and evaluation of breast diseases.