Study results show that with the addition of BSGI, doctors could eliminate the need for one half of all breast biopsies or possibly change a patient’s decision to have more radical surgery. MRI is highly sensitive to small abnormalities but not as specific as some other modalities when it comes to diagnosing cancerous lesions in breast tissue.Īccording to one study presented earlier this year during the annual National Interdisciplinary Breast Center Conference, BSGI could be used to improve on the specificity of MRI, potentially as a follow-up to mammography. Per the 2007 American Cancer Society guidelines, MRI in conjunction with mammography is good for use in women with dense breast tissue and those at high risk for breast cancer. MRI was approved by the FDA for use in breast cancer diagnosis in 1991. Where PEM and BSGI image cancer activity, MRI images its structure. “What’s unique about PEM is the ability of the image to represent the physiology of the area of interest as opposed to just its anatomic appearance,” Tafra says. However, MBI adds a dual-head, small field-of-view detector and semiconductor technology to the modality. Similarities exist between BSGI and MBI, with both utilizing nuclear medicine technology. Since cancer cells use more energy than normal cells, they take up more of the tracer and are highlighted on the image. With PEM, the tracer contains glucose, which is metabolized by cells for energy. BSGI uses a gamma camera scaled and designed specifically for breast imaging. “Functional breast imaging is done for the same reasons as other forms of breast imaging: to look for signs of cancer,” says Lorraine Tafra, MD, FACS, director of the Anne Arundel Medical Center Breast Center in Annapolis, Md.īoth PEM and BSGI rely on the use of radiotracers to detect cancer cells. Differences among modalities vary, but the desired results are the same. Attendees were curious about the different functional breast imaging techniques and which modalities they should incorporate into their standards of care. They join breast MRI as tools to improve on screening mammography.Įxperts in the various functional breast imaging modalities addressed questions from breast surgeons as part of the American Society of Breast Surgeons’ recent annual meeting. MBI is still in the clinical trial stage. Modalities such as positron emission mammography (PEM), breast-specific gamma imaging (BSGI), and molecular breast imaging (MBI), are more often seen today as adjuncts to a woman’s annual mammogram. In the diagnosis of breast cancer, complementary imaging tools enhance the diagnosis of breast cancer. In the art world, complementary colors oppose each other on the color wheel but work together to enhance the composition. Functional Breast Imaging Modalities - Breast Surgeons Explore Their Roles in Improving Cancer Diagnosis
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