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New
digital technique improves mammography results Radiological Society of North America Public
Release: August 26, 2003
OAK BROOK, Ill. – Radiologists are experimenting with contrast digital mammography to better diagnose cancer in dense breasts, according to a study appearing in the September issue of the journal Radiology. "This
advanced digital application is increasing the potential of
mammography," said the study's lead author, Roberta A. Jong, M.D.
"Contrast digital mammography makes cancers stand out against dense
breast tissue that previously hid tumors with conventional film
mammography," said Dr. Jong, assistant professor at the University of
Toronto and division head of breast imaging at Sunnybrook and Women's
College Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, Canada. The
researchers used intravenous iodine contrast in conjunction with digital
mammography to evaluate 22 women with suspicious abnormalities disclosed
by conventional (film) mammography and compared the findings. Ten
of the 22 patients had biopsy-proven cancers. Contrast digital mammography
was used to accurately identify eight of the 10. While conventional
mammography indicated that benign lesions in the 12 other patients were
suspicious, thus requiring biopsy, contrast digital mammography enhanced
only five, which would indicate a potential for a significant reduction in
false positive findings and unnecessary biopsies. The
diagnostic capabilities of film mammography are limited in dense breast
tissue, which often obscures cancer. Even when tumors are found in dense
breast tissue with film mammography, the extent of the disease may not be
fully apparent. Contrast
material used in conjunction with digital mammography enhances new blood
vessels created by a tumor to supply nutrients and oxygen necessary for
its continued growth. Contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
successfully uses the same principle of detecting tumor vessels, or
angiogenesis, to identify breast lesions, but is more expensive than
digital mammography. "In
the future, contrast digital mammography will help radiologists better
detect cancer in dense breasts in a way that is much faster and less
costly than contrast MRI, yet better than film mammography," said Dr.
Jong. According
to Dr. Jong, contrast digital mammography may be useful in identifying the
extent of disease and revealing previously undetected breast cancer that
has metastasized. She hopes contrast digital mammography will become
clinically available for mainstream use in the foreseeable future. In the
meantime, she advises that women continue to undergo regular screening
mammography from an accredited facility. Radiology
is a monthly scientific journal devoted to clinical radiology and allied
sciences. The journal is edited by Anthony V. Proto, M.D., School of
Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia. Radiology
is owned and published by the Radiological Society of North America Inc. (http://radiology.rsna.org/)
The
Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) is an association of more
than 33,000 radiologists, radiation oncologists and related scientists
committed to promoting excellence through education and by fostering
research, with the ultimate goal of improving patient care. The Society's
headquarters are located at 820 Jorie Boulevard, Oak Brook, Ill.
60523-2251. (http://www.rsna.org) "Contrast
Digital Mammography: Initial Clinical Experience." Collaborating with
Dr. Jong on this study were Martin J. Yaffe, Ph.D., Mia Skarpathiotakis,
B.A.Sc., Rene S. Shumak, M.D., Nathalie Danjoux, B.Sc., Anoma Gunesekara,
B.Sc., and Donald B. Plewes, Ph.D. Contact:
Maureen Morley: mmorley@rsna.org
Copyright
© 2002 Global Action on Aging
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