Contrast-Enhanced Spectral Mammography Tool Shows Area of Angiogenesis

Digital contrast-enhanced spectral mammography technology utilizes a new, easily deployable tool that has better sensitivity, specificity, and negative predictive value (NPV) than mammography alone and therefore shows potential as an adjunct to inconclusive mammography and to measure extent of disease to help plan surgery and treatment.

Using GE Healthcare's (Chalfont St. Giles, UK) SenoBright digital mammography system, patients receive an intravenous injection of standard iodine contrast agent, and after two minutes undergo a five-minute digital mammography exam acquiring a low energy and high energy. These are recombined to show only the presence of iodine, which tends to show areas of angiogenesis. The images are then processed for optimal review on the radiologist's review workstation

The system features quick learning curve through optimized correlation between standard images and contrast-enhanced acquisitions; provides surgeons and specialists the information they need in a familiar setting; decreases the delay between detection and diagnosis, and serves as a problem-solving exam for inconclusive mammography.

The Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM)-compatible system also evaluates the extent of cancer, and reduces time between diagnosis and treatment. The clinically proven technique has shown to have better sensitivity, specificity, and negative predictive value than standard mammography. The 7 to 10 minutes exam can be performed on the same equipment with the same staff on the same day.

The technology can be utilized to leverage tumor angiogenesis to detect abnormal visualization, and moreover, can reduce patient anxiety by eliminating the delays of answer. Other advantages include the intravenous iodine injection used with the system similar to injected CT exams and a dedicated quality control protocol is supplied using the usual full-field digital mammography (FFDM) phantom;

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