NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Dec. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Study results recently presented at the Radiological Society of North America 93rd Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting demonstrated the value of Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI) as a strong adjunctive imaging modality to mammography and breast ultrasound. The study, performed by Dr. Jean Weigert, Director of Breast Imaging at Mandell and Blau MDs PC in New Britain, CT, demonstrated the very high predictive values of BSGI for identifying breast cancer.
Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI) is molecular imaging of the breast, a novel physiologic approach in breast diagnostics that is performed with a high-resolution small field-of-view gamma camera and Tc-Sestamibi. According to Dr. Weigert, the radioisotope is taken up by cells with increased metabolic activity, such as the rapidly dividing cells in breast cancers; and areas of concern present at highly focalized areas of radiotracer uptake, or hotspots.
The study reviewed 512 women referred to BSGI due to an indeterminate mammogram and/or ultrasound. A history of breast cancer or new diagnosis of breast cancer as well as family history also warranted study. Additional mammography work-up, second-look ultrasound or MRI was used as needed to further evaluate areas of increased radiotracer uptake on BSGI.
Eighty-one percent of the patients had 6 to 24 month follow-up with no new findings. Ninety-seven biopsies were performed, of which 46 were positive and 51 were negative; five in patients with negative studies. In patients with newly diagnosed cancer, BSGI findings resulted in a change in surgical management in seven patients, identification of four occult contralateral cancers; and six patients underwent mastectomy due to discovery of more extensive disease. The smallest cancer identified was 5mm and no infiltrating lobular carcinomas were missed.
According to Dr. Weigert, Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging is a valuable technology that can help to diagnose unsuspected cancers and find greater extent of disease than may have been identified with mammography and ultrasound alone.
About BSGI with the Dilon 6800 Gamma Camera
Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI) performed with the Dilon 6800, is a molecular breast imaging technique that can see lesions independent of tissue density and discover very early stage cancers. BSGI serves as a complementary diagnostic adjunct procedure to mammography and ultrasound for difficult-to-diagnose patients. With BSGI, the patient receives a radioactive tracing agent that is absorbed by all the cells in the body. Cancerous cells in the breast, due to their increased rate of metabolic activity, absorb a greater amount of the tracing agent than normal, healthy cells and generally appear as “hot spots” on the BSGI image.
BSGI is ideal for patients with mammograms that are difficult to interpret due to a variety of factors, such as: dense breast tissue, suspicious areas on a mammogram, lumps that can be felt but not seen with mammography or ultrasound, implants and breast augmentation, scarring from previous surgeries and for women with an increased risk of breast cancer diagnosis.
About Dilon Technologies
Dilon Technologies is bringing innovative new medical imaging products to market. Dilon’s cornerstone product, the Dilon 6800, is a high-resolution, small field-of-view gamma camera, optimized to perform Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI), a molecular breast imaging procedure that images the metabolic activity of breast lesions through radiotracer uptake. Many leading medical centers around the country are now offering BSGI to their patients, including: Cornell University Medical Center, New York; George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, D.C.; Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago; and The Rose, Houston. For more information on Dilon Technologies please visit http://www.dilon.com.
CONTACT: Nancy F. Morter of Dilon Technologies, Inc., +1-757-269-4910,
ext. 302, cell +1-757-589-3914, nfmorter@dilon.com
Web site: http://www.dilon.com/
