Ces radiol. 2009, 63(1):69-75

Computed tomography laser mamography (CTLM) - new imaging method in mammadiagnosticsOriginal article

Alena Bílková¹, Václav Janík¹, Marie Bendová², Bohuslav Svoboda²

¹ Radiodiagnostická klinika 3. LF UK a FNKV, Praha

² Gynekologicko-porodnická klinika 3. LF UK a FNKV, Praha

Aim: To explain the principle of this new examination method Computed Tomography Laser Mammography (CTLM), to demonstrate possibilities of CTLM for diagnosis of the breast lesions and to discover, if the finding of angiogenesis could help to reduce the number of core-cut biopsies to assist in differentiating malignant from benign breast lesions.


Materials and method. Computed tomography laser mammography (CTLM) is a new examination method uses laser beam of the wavelength equal to 808 nanometer to show the blood-vessel of the breast. Laser beam, which is absorbed in oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin, is able to display physiological and pathological vascular structures of the breast. We indicated for CTLM patients with high density of breast tissue and with clinical suspicious of malignant or ill - defined breast lesion before core - cut biopsy. We identified the lesion with mammography or with ultrasound. We search the diagnostic finding of angiogenesis by evaluation of the CTLM scans. We evaluated the positive findings of angiogenesis in relation to either malignant or benign lesions or in relation to consequently made core-cut biopsies.

Results: From January 2007 to November 2008 we performed examination of 1022 patients using CTLM. The age of the patients was from 13 to 81 years. The group of 148 patients had suspect lesion described by mammography or ultrasound and angiogenesis was described in this group in 22 cases (15%). Results of core-cut biopsies of 148 patients described 66 (45%) malignant and 82 benign (55%) histological findings. From 66 patients with verified malignant tumor angiogenesis was described in 17 (25 %) cases, from 82 patients with benign tumor angiogenesis was described in 5 (6%) cases.

Conclusion: Results of our study group states, that angiogenesis detected by CTLM is not able clearly recognize malignant from benign lesion. In this time CTLM can give adjunct information to basic examination methods - mammography and ultrasound. If we have suspicion of significant breast lesion from mammography or ultrasound, it is necessary to provide core - cut biopsy to verify the malignancy or benignancy of the breast lesion.

Keywords: angiogenesis, benign and malignant breast tumors, CT laser mammography, deoxyhemoglobin, oxyhemoglobin

Accepted: February 15, 2009; Published: March 1, 2009  Show citation