Breast cancer ribbon intertwined with a micro-CT scanner.

Micro-CT Scanning: The Future of Breast Cancer Surgery?

Reese Marlowe in Health & Wellness August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) is revolutionizing surgical margin assessment in breast conserving surgery (BCS), potentially reducing re-excision rates and improving patient outcomes."

Breast-conserving surgery (BCS) is a common treatment for early-stage breast cancer, allowing women to retain their breasts while removing cancerous tissue. However, a significant challenge in BCS is ensuring that all cancer cells are removed during the initial surgery. When cancer cells remain at the edge of the removed tissue—known as positive surgical margins—patients often require a second surgery, called a re-excision, to clear the remaining cancer.

A recent study published in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment explores the potential of micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) as a tool to improve the precision of BCS. This technology could help surgeons better assess surgical margins during the initial procedure, reducing the need for re-excisions and improving outcomes for patients.

Micro-CT offers a detailed, three-dimensional view of breast tissue, allowing for a more comprehensive assessment of the surgical margins compared to traditional methods like specimen radiography. The study investigates the feasibility and value of micro-CT in guiding surgical decisions during BCS.

How Does Micro-CT Enhance Surgical Margin Assessment?

Breast cancer ribbon intertwined with a micro-CT scanner.

The study involved prospectively imaging 32 BCS specimens using a pre-clinical micro-CT system upon arrival in the surgical pathology laboratory. After reconstruction, the scans were then analyzed by an experienced breast radiologist, who was blinded to the final pathological diagnosis. The radiologist determined whether lesions extended to the specimen margin.

The micro-CT scans provided a detailed view of the tissue, allowing the radiologist to identify potential areas of concern that might not be visible with traditional methods. This is particularly important because ensuring clear margins during BCS is critical to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence. The technology's ability to provide a three-dimensional assessment offers a significant advantage.

Detailed Imaging: Micro-CT provides high-resolution, three-dimensional images of the breast tissue.
Comprehensive Assessment: Surgeons can assess the entire surface of the surgical specimen for cancer cells.
Improved Precision: Real-time feedback allows for more precise removal of cancerous tissue.
Reduced Re-excisions: Fewer repeat surgeries mean less stress and recovery time for patients.

The study compared the micro-CT readings to the final pathological diagnosis and to 2D specimen radiography readings. The results showed that micro-CT had a negative predictive value of 89% [95 CI (74%–96%)], indicating its potential to accurately identify specimens where the margins were clear of cancer. Furthermore, micro-CT readings revealed changes in tumor location and margin status compared to single-projection radiography readings.

The Future of Micro-CT in Breast Cancer Treatment

Micro-CT scanning of BCS specimens offers a promising avenue for improving surgical margin assessment. By providing additional spatial information and enabling margin status assessment over the entirety of the surgical surface, micro-CT has the potential to be a valuable tool in guiding BCS procedures. While further research and development are needed, micro-CT represents a significant step forward in the ongoing effort to enhance the precision and effectiveness of breast cancer surgery.

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Everything You Need To Know

What is Micro-CT and how does it help in breast cancer surgery?

Micro-computed tomography, or Micro-CT, is an advanced imaging technique that provides detailed, three-dimensional views of breast tissue. In breast cancer surgery, particularly Breast-Conserving Surgery (BCS), Micro-CT aids surgeons in assessing surgical margins. This means it helps them ensure that all cancerous tissue is removed during the initial surgery. By offering a comprehensive view, Micro-CT can potentially reduce the need for re-excisions, improving patient outcomes by enhancing surgical precision and reducing the risk of cancer recurrence at the surgical site.

How does Micro-CT compare to traditional methods like specimen radiography in assessing surgical margins during Breast-Conserving Surgery?

Unlike traditional methods such as specimen radiography, Micro-CT offers a more detailed and comprehensive assessment of surgical margins. Specimen radiography provides two-dimensional images, which may not fully reveal the extent of cancerous tissue, especially if it's at the edges of the removed tissue. Micro-CT, with its three-dimensional imaging capability, allows surgeons to examine the entire surface of the surgical specimen, identifying potential areas of concern more effectively. This enhanced precision provided by Micro-CT can lead to more accurate assessment, potentially reducing the likelihood of positive surgical margins and the need for re-excisions.

What were the key findings of the study using Micro-CT for Breast-Conserving Surgery?

The study found that Micro-CT has significant potential in improving surgical margin assessment. The research involved imaging 32 Breast-Conserving Surgery specimens with a pre-clinical Micro-CT system. The readings from Micro-CT were compared to the final pathological diagnosis and 2D specimen radiography. The results showed that Micro-CT had a negative predictive value of 89%, indicating its ability to accurately identify specimens where the margins were clear of cancer. Furthermore, Micro-CT readings revealed changes in tumor location and margin status compared to single-projection radiography readings, highlighting its advantage in providing detailed spatial information and enabling a more thorough assessment of the surgical surface.

What are the potential benefits of using Micro-CT in Breast-Conserving Surgery for patients?

The implementation of Micro-CT in Breast-Conserving Surgery offers several advantages for patients. By improving the precision of surgical margin assessment, Micro-CT can help ensure that all cancerous tissue is removed during the initial surgery. This, in turn, reduces the likelihood of positive surgical margins and the need for a second surgery, known as re-excision. Fewer re-excisions mean less physical and emotional stress, faster recovery times, and potentially better long-term outcomes for patients. Additionally, the enhanced accuracy of Micro-CT could contribute to a lower risk of cancer recurrence at the surgical site, providing patients with greater peace of mind.

What are the next steps for Micro-CT in breast cancer treatment, and what challenges remain?

While Micro-CT shows great promise, further research and development are necessary before it can become a standard practice. The next steps involve larger-scale studies to validate its effectiveness and assess its cost-effectiveness. Technological advancements could focus on improving the speed and efficiency of Micro-CT scanning, and also on reducing the radiation dose. Challenges include the need for specialized equipment and trained professionals to interpret the images. Despite these hurdles, Micro-CT represents a significant step forward, potentially revolutionizing surgical margin assessment and improving the precision and effectiveness of Breast-Conserving Surgery.