Breast cancer kills 40,000 women every year, and while mammography is a primary method for early detection, it's not always effective for women with complex or dense breast tissue.  Now a new diagnostic tool could help save lives.

Female Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among American women and the second leading cause of cancer death (lung cancer is the leading cause). In 2009, the American Cancer Society estimated about 192,370 cases of invasive breast cancer would be diagnosed in the U.S. and 40,170 women would die from the disease.

In addition to invasive breast cancer, women are at risk for carcinoma in situ, sometimes described as the earliest form of breast cancer. The most common form is ductal carcinoma in situ, or DCIS, in which the cancer cells are still confined inside the breast ducts. DCIS accounts for 20 percent of all new breast cancers and 80 percent of all cases of carcinoma in situ.

Another form of carcinoma in situ is lobular carcinoma in situ, or LCIS. It begins in the milk-producing glands and accounts for about 12 percent of cases of carcinoma in situ. Most experts don’t consider this to be a true cancer. However, women with LCIS are at higher risk for developing invasive breast cancer.

Breast Imaging
There are several different methods for imaging the breasts. Mammography, or breast X-ray, is the gold standard for breast screening and diagnosis. Researchers estimate mammograms are 78 to 85 percent sensitive in their ability to detect breast cancers. However, the technique is less accurate in women with dense breasts, with sensitive ranging from 42 to 68 percent. In addition, up to 30 percent of mammograms produce a false positive result, leading to unnecessary biopsy and worry for women.

Ultrasound creates images by recording the images of sound waves as they echo off tissue and other structures in the breast. Sensitivity of ultrasound for breast cancer detection is about 68 percent, much less than mammography. In addition, ultrasound can produce misleading findings.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses magnetic fields to produce detailed, cross-sectional images of the body. A contrast agent may be injected into the body before an MRI to improve the ability to accurately image the breasts. Researchers estimate MRI has a sensitivity of about 83 percent for breast cancer detection.

Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI)
A newer technique for breast imaging is breast-specific gamma imaging (BSGI). It uses an intravenous injection of a radio-opaque tracer, sestimibi, and a Dilon 6800® Gamma Camera to detect breast cancers. Inside the body, sestimibi emits small amounts of gamma radiation, which is picked up by the gamma camera. Bruce Porter, M.D., Diagnostic Radiologist with Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, says the drug is taken in by all cells. However, cancer cells have a higher rate of metabolic activity than normal cells, and thus, take in more of the tracer. The breast cancer cells show up as brighter images on the gamma camera pictures. Researchers estimate BSGI has a sensitivity for breast cancer detection of 93 to 96.4 percent.

The manufacturer reports BSGI is especially useful for detection of carcinoma in situ. Porter says it is also a good diagnostic tool for women with dense breasts or those with questionable mammogram results. In some cases, it may help women avoid a breast biopsy.

The Dilon 6800 Gamma Camera is approved by the FDA. However, it is not a screening tool because it is slower and much more costly than mammography. According to the manufacturer, cost for a BSGI ranges from $300 to $1,000, depending on the area of the country. (In comparison, out-of-pocket costs for a mammogram range from about $100 to $200.) Some insurance companies cover the cost of BSGI. For more information, or to locate the nearest center, go to http://www.dilon.com/pages/bsgi_center_locator/105.php.

AUDIENCE INQUIRY
For information on BSGI (Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging), or to locate the nearest center, go to http://www.dilon.com/pages/bsgi_center_locator/105.php.

For information on breast cancer, diagnosis and treatment:
American Cancer Society, http://www.cancer.org
National Cancer Institute, http://www.cancer.gov

Research compiled and edited by Barbara J. Fister

© 2010 Medstar Television, Inc. All Rights Reserved
 

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Comments (1)

 CindyInLA says:

2010-Jan-19 13:13

Best Breast Cancer Resource

I'm a 2-time bc survivor and thriver - and have been totally revived by a dvd i just found made for women with breast cancer called 'The Path of Wellness And Healing.' It's like an encyclopedia for breast cancer but it's also moving, inspiring, the whole nine. Every doctor from deepak Chopra to Dean Ornish is on it and every celeb bc survivor from Sheryl Crow to Melissa Ethridge. So awesome!!!

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