Breast Gamma/Molecular Imaging Detects Breast Cancer in Difficult to Diagnose Patients

Recent research demonstrates breast-specific gamma imaging/molecular breast imaging (BSGI/MBI) provides additional information when conventional imaging is indeterminate and greater confidence is required to improve diagnostic accuracy.

The data from the retrospective study, conducted by Dr. Barbara Ward and others of Weinstein Imaging (Pittsburgh, PA, USA) demonstrated that BSGI contributed significantly to patient management by detecting cancer in seven of the 73 patients (9%), and was presented in December 2010 at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (TX, USA).

BSGI/MBI is a molecular breast imaging technique that is utilized to identify early stage cancers by means of a high-resolution, small field-of-view gamma camera and a radiotracer. Cells with increased metabolic activity, such as rapidly dividing cancers, preferentially absorb this tracer and are viewed as dark spots on the BSGI image. BSGI is a diagnostic complement to mammography, and is particularly helpful for patients with negative or indeterminate mammograms and an unresolved clinical concern such as indeterminate densities, new vague calcifications, bloody nipple discharge, focal breast pain or palpable masses; particularly in those of elevated risk and patients with dense breast tissue.

The study included 73 patients with 79 regions of concern that were classified as indeterminate following mammography and ultrasound. There were 7 biopsy-validated malignant lesions and 72 benign findings on pathology or follow-up imaging. BSGI was positive in 7 malignant and 21 benign lesions and negative in 51 benign lesions, yielding a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 71%.

The study, according to the researchers, demonstrated that BSGI/MBI is a useful complimentary tool in the diagnostic work up of patients when a diagnostic concern remains after negative or indeterminate conventional imaging.

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