TY - JOUR
T1 - Low-Dose Perfusion Computed Tomography for Breast Cancer to Quantify Tumor Vascularity
T2 - Correlation With Prognostic Biomarkers
AU - Park, Eun Kyung
AU - Seo, Bo Kyoung
AU - Kwon, Myoungae
AU - Cho, Kyu Ran
AU - Woo, Ok Hee
AU - Song, Sung Eun
AU - Cha, Jaehyung
AU - Lee, Hye Yoon
N1 - Funding Information:
Conflicts of interest and sources of funding: Bo Kyoung Seo disclosed research grants from Guerbet Korea Ltd and Philips Health Systems Korea. Other authors have nothing to disclose. National Research Foundation of Korea grant funded by the Korea government (Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning; No. NRF-2017R1A2B4010178), Guerbet Korea Ltd, and Philips Health Systems Korea.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
PY - 2019/5/1
Y1 - 2019/5/1
N2 - Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using low-dose perfusion computed tomography (CT) in breast cancers for quantification of tumor vascularity and to correlate perfusion indexes with prognostic biomarkers. Materials and Methods This preliminary study was approved by our institutional review board. Signed informed consent was obtained from all 70 enrolled patients with invasive breast cancers. Low-dose perfusion CT was performed with the patient in the prone position using a spectral CT device set at 80 kVp and 30 mAs (1.30-1.40 mSv). Images were analyzed using commercial software applying the maximum slope algorithm. On CT perfusion maps, perfusion (mL/min per 100 mL), blood volume (mL/100 g), time-to-peak enhancement (second), and peak enhancement intensity (HU) were measured in the tumor, normal breast glandular tissues, and fat. Tumor grade, estrogen receptor (ER), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), and Ki67 level were evaluated using histopathology. Statistically, CT perfusion indexes of the tumor and normal glandular tissues or fat were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and CT indexes were correlated with histological characteristics using the Mann-Whitney U or Kruskal-Wallis tests. We also correlated CT indexes with magnetic resonance imaging enhancement characteristics. Results In breast cancers, perfusion, blood volume, and peak enhancement intensity values were significantly higher, and time to peak was shorter than in normal glandular tissues and fat (P < 0.001). Perfusion increased significantly in high-grade, ER-, or HER2+ cancers (P < 0.05). Time to peak decreased in ER-, HER2+, and high-grade cancers or in those with high Ki67 levels (P < 0.05). Peak enhancement intensity significantly increased in high-grade cancers (P < 0.05). HER2 overexpressing cancers showed significantly higher perfusion and shorter time to peak than luminal-type cancers (P < 0.05). Perfusion increased and time to peak decreased significantly in cancers with washout enhancement patterns on magnetic resonance imaging. Conclusions Low-dose perfusion CT in the prone position is feasible to quantify tumor vascularity in breast cancers, and CT perfusion indexes are significantly correlated with prognostic biomarkers and molecular subtypes of breast cancer.
AB - Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using low-dose perfusion computed tomography (CT) in breast cancers for quantification of tumor vascularity and to correlate perfusion indexes with prognostic biomarkers. Materials and Methods This preliminary study was approved by our institutional review board. Signed informed consent was obtained from all 70 enrolled patients with invasive breast cancers. Low-dose perfusion CT was performed with the patient in the prone position using a spectral CT device set at 80 kVp and 30 mAs (1.30-1.40 mSv). Images were analyzed using commercial software applying the maximum slope algorithm. On CT perfusion maps, perfusion (mL/min per 100 mL), blood volume (mL/100 g), time-to-peak enhancement (second), and peak enhancement intensity (HU) were measured in the tumor, normal breast glandular tissues, and fat. Tumor grade, estrogen receptor (ER), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), and Ki67 level were evaluated using histopathology. Statistically, CT perfusion indexes of the tumor and normal glandular tissues or fat were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and CT indexes were correlated with histological characteristics using the Mann-Whitney U or Kruskal-Wallis tests. We also correlated CT indexes with magnetic resonance imaging enhancement characteristics. Results In breast cancers, perfusion, blood volume, and peak enhancement intensity values were significantly higher, and time to peak was shorter than in normal glandular tissues and fat (P < 0.001). Perfusion increased significantly in high-grade, ER-, or HER2+ cancers (P < 0.05). Time to peak decreased in ER-, HER2+, and high-grade cancers or in those with high Ki67 levels (P < 0.05). Peak enhancement intensity significantly increased in high-grade cancers (P < 0.05). HER2 overexpressing cancers showed significantly higher perfusion and shorter time to peak than luminal-type cancers (P < 0.05). Perfusion increased and time to peak decreased significantly in cancers with washout enhancement patterns on magnetic resonance imaging. Conclusions Low-dose perfusion CT in the prone position is feasible to quantify tumor vascularity in breast cancers, and CT perfusion indexes are significantly correlated with prognostic biomarkers and molecular subtypes of breast cancer.
KW - angiogenesis
KW - biomarkers
KW - breast neoplasms
KW - computed tomography
KW - perfusion imaging
KW - prospective studies
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85064239973&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/RLI.0000000000000538
DO - 10.1097/RLI.0000000000000538
M3 - Article
C2 - 30570503
AN - SCOPUS:85064239973
SN - 0020-9996
VL - 54
SP - 273
EP - 281
JO - Investigative Radiology
JF - Investigative Radiology
IS - 5
ER -
