Molecular Imaging Aids Mammography
Apr. 02, 2009
A recent study concludes that molecular breast imaging serves as a useful follow-up to mammography by detecting lesions independent of tissue density and helping to locate early-stage cancers.
Breast-specific Gamma Imaging, or BSGI, is a molecular technique that uses a gamma camera and a radiotracer to detect cancer. Cancer cells take up the radiotracer at a higher rate than healthy cells do. The cancer cells then appear as hot spots on the BSGI image.
For the study, researchers reviewed the mammography and BSGI results of 138 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients from two Portland, Ore., community-based breast imaging centers. They used a high-resolution, compact field-of-view gamma camera made by Dilon Technologies Inc. of Newport News, Va., which had been optimized to perform BSGI.
Of the 138 patients, 25, or 18.1 percent, had a positive BSGI study for cancer at a site other than their known cancer, or more extensive disease than was detected from previous imaging. BSGI had a positive predictive value of 92.9 percent for detecting cancer.
Based on BSGI findings, seven patients were switched to mastectomy and one patient was switched to chemotherapy.
Among patients with a positive BSGI finding, five had benign findings on pathology and five had benign results on ultrasound follow-up, for a false-positive rate of 7.2 percent.
When compared with magnetic resonance, a common adjunct to mammography, BSGI had superior specificity, or ability to detect that disease is actually not present. BSGI's sensitivity, or ability to detect disease, was comparable to that of MR.
"The research is important because it helps clarify the role of BSGI in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients," said Nathalie Johnson, M.D., from the Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland, Ore. "We have found that these women can have more extensive disease that is not detected by mammography or ultrasound."
Dr. Johnson said that BSGI would be especially helpful in patients with dense breast tissue who need additional evaluation. She noted that BSGI is less expensive and easier to use for patients and physicians than MR. The study appeared in the February issue of The American Journal of Surgery.
"More than 50,000 patients have been imaged with BSGI," said Bob Moussa, president and CEO of Dilon Technologies. "As we move forward into 2009, we will continue the momentum with the help of physicians worldwide."
Apr. 02, 2009
A recent study concludes that molecular breast imaging serves as a useful follow-up to mammography by detecting lesions independent of tissue density and helping to locate early-stage cancers.
Breast-specific Gamma Imaging, or BSGI, is a molecular technique that uses a gamma camera and a radiotracer to detect cancer. Cancer cells take up the radiotracer at a higher rate than healthy cells do. The cancer cells then appear as hot spots on the BSGI image.
For the study, researchers reviewed the mammography and BSGI results of 138 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients from two Portland, Ore., community-based breast imaging centers. They used a high-resolution, compact field-of-view gamma camera made by Dilon Technologies Inc. of Newport News, Va., which had been optimized to perform BSGI.
Of the 138 patients, 25, or 18.1 percent, had a positive BSGI study for cancer at a site other than their known cancer, or more extensive disease than was detected from previous imaging. BSGI had a positive predictive value of 92.9 percent for detecting cancer.
Based on BSGI findings, seven patients were switched to mastectomy and one patient was switched to chemotherapy.
Among patients with a positive BSGI finding, five had benign findings on pathology and five had benign results on ultrasound follow-up, for a false-positive rate of 7.2 percent.
When compared with magnetic resonance, a common adjunct to mammography, BSGI had superior specificity, or ability to detect that disease is actually not present. BSGI's sensitivity, or ability to detect disease, was comparable to that of MR.
"The research is important because it helps clarify the role of BSGI in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients," said Nathalie Johnson, M.D., from the Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland, Ore. "We have found that these women can have more extensive disease that is not detected by mammography or ultrasound."
Dr. Johnson said that BSGI would be especially helpful in patients with dense breast tissue who need additional evaluation. She noted that BSGI is less expensive and easier to use for patients and physicians than MR. The study appeared in the February issue of The American Journal of Surgery.
"More than 50,000 patients have been imaged with BSGI," said Bob Moussa, president and CEO of Dilon Technologies. "As we move forward into 2009, we will continue the momentum with the help of physicians worldwide."
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