Chemotherapy Monitoring With Breast Computed Tomography (CT)

Before undergoing surgery to remove the tumor, it is common for breast cancer patients to first undergo chemotherapy or hormonal therapy. The main goal of the therapy is to reduce the size of the tumor before it is removed. Unfortunately, therapy response varies a lot between patients. The development of an effective therapy response monitoring method could reduce the time that a patient undergoes ineffectual therapy or unnecessary therapy after complete response.

Dedicated breast computed tomography (or breast CT), a new way of imaging the breast, has been introduced in the last few years. Breast CT is an x-ray exam that uses 3D imaging to show the breast in its real three dimensional shape. Combined with the use of special chemicals called iodine contrast enhancement, breast CT can provide images of both the anatomy and the blood flow in the breast. We propose to use breast CT to carefully monitor the response to therapy of breast cancer patients undergoing therapy before surgery.

3.1 Eligibility Criteria

• All subjects will be women at least 18 years of age that will undergo standard or research pre-operative hormonal therapy for breast cancer before lumpectomy or mastectomy.
• Women who have undergone pre treatment breast MR imaging to verify that no additional findings are present.

3.2 Ineligibility Criteria

• Subject does not meet any of the inclusion criteria
• Women with suspected or confirmed pregnancy
• Women who have had bilateral mastectomy
• Women who are unable to remain in a prone position on the BCT system for the required amount of time
• Women who cannot give informed consent
• Women with metastasis
• Male subjects
• Women with implants
• Women with breast augmentation, except for unilateral augmentation done for prior mastectomy
• Women who are allergic to iodine
• Women with physical limitations such as, but not limited to: frozen shoulder, recent heart surgery, pace maker, neck problems or any other condition that would prohibit them from lying face down
• Women who have had problems or reactions to contrast, such as nausea/vomiting, itching, hives, B/P changes, respirator distress, cardiac arrest.
• Women with history of Diabetes, kidney disease, kidney surgery, dialysis, heart disease-such as Congestive Heart Failure, Multiple Myeloma, Sickle Cell Anemia, Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis or other Autoimmune disease, recent surgery, chemotherapy, dehydration, high use of NSAIDs such as Ibuprofen