Most incidental breast cancers missed on emergency chest CT, causing diagnostic delays

Nearly 70% of incidental breast cancers visible on emergency chest CT were missed, leading to diagnostic delays of up to 33 months, reports an Academic Radiology analysis. Missed lesions were smaller (mean 13.6 mm vs. 22.2 mm).

• Missed lesions were more often in the right breast; detected lesions were more often in the inner zone, accompanied by axillary lymphadenopathy and fatty breast parenchyma (Type A).
• Systematic evaluation of breast parenchyma on chest CT and reporting breast density could reduce misses; AI may help detect small or atypical lesions.

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