Objective To analyze the ability of spectral CT imaging in displaying breast cancer lesions and explore the value of spectral CT imaging in detecting breast cancer. Methods The spectral CT images with different parameters of sixty-eight breast cancer lesions confirmed by pathology between July 2013 and February 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. The contrast noise ratio (CNR) and signal to noise ratio (SNR) as well as the ability in detecting breast cancer of the images with different parameters were compared. Results Fat-water material decomposition images showed breast cancer lesions best. Iodine-water material decomposition images had the lowest CNR. 70 keV monochromatic images and the monochromatic of best CNR images had better SNR. Fat-water material decomposition images detected all of the breast cancer lesions. Conventional CT plain scan detected least lesions. Conclusion Spectral CT imaging, especially fat-water material decomposition images, can show breast cancer lesions well, which has the potential application for detection of breast cancer lesions.