Abstract:

Objective The paper was aimed to analyze CT signs of mammary tuberculosis in females and investigate the diagnostic value of CT scan for these patients. Methods A total of 20 female patients with mammary tuberculosis, who were found with mammary lesions when undergoing chest CT and confirmed by surgical pathology in Chongqing Public Health Medical Center from August 2015 to May 2019, were enrolled, and then the CT manifestations and involvement of adjacent tissues and organs were analyzed. Results Of the 20 cases of mammary tuberculosis, 12 were presented with lesions in the right breasts, while 8 in the left breasts; there were 13 with single lesion and 7 with multiple lesions; the numbers of nodular, lump and flake morphologies were 16, 1 and 3, respectively; and the lesion size was measured with 1.0 cm×1.5 cm-5.1 cm×3.2 cm. Based on plain CT scan, there were 11 lesions with equal density,9 with slightly lower density, 4 with nodular calcification,17 with blurred borders, and 12 with uniform thickening of adjacent skin. According to CT enhancement scan, there were 15 lesions with ring enhancement, 3 with uneven enhancement, 2 with uniform enhancement, and 2 with accompanied sinus formation. Among them, 13 cases were accompanied by ipsilateral or bilateral axillary lymph node tuberculosis with annular enhancement, 5 cases had ipsilateral chest wall tuberculosis with marginal enhancement, and 10 cases had pulmonary tuberculosis. Conclusion The characteristic CT manifestation of mammary tuberculosis is ring enhancement, which is often accompanied by ipsilateral axillary lymph nodes, chest wall tuberculosis, and pulmonary tuberculosis.

Key words: Tuberculosis, Breast diseases, Tomography,spiral computed, Diagnostic imaging