A multicenter clinical trial comparing the sensitivity of traditional breast CA detection technologies (MRI, sonography, and mammography) versus the new one, called the Breast Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI), has yielded exciting findings. As we have reported before, the technology, being commercialized by Dilon Technologies (Newport News, VA), relies on a pharmaceutical tracing agent that emits gamma radiation after it is injected and taken up by all cells of the body. BCGI is thought to work by detecting the increased metabolic activity of cancerous cells as compared to surrounding tissues. The company says that its diagnostic modality is independent of tissue density and can discover very early stage cancers, hence the firm is hoping that one day BCGI will become a standard adjunctive molecular breast imaging technique to mammography. The result of the latest trial show that company’s Dilon 6800 Gamma Camera and the diagnostic system seem to be as good as the other modalities for detecting small tumors within breasts.
Here are the results and conclusions, taken from the study abstract:
RESULTS. Twenty-six women ranging in age from 46 to 82 years (mean age, 62.8 years) with a total of 28 biopsy-proven invasive lobular carcinomas were included in the study group. Mammograms were negative in six of 28 (21%), yielding a sensitivity of 79%. In the 25 patients who underwent sonography, 17 had focal hypoechoic areas, yielding a sensitivity of 68%. In the 12 patients who underwent MRI, the sensitivity was 83%. BSGI had a sensitivity of 93%. There was no statistically significant difference in the sensitivity of BSGI, MRI, sonography, or mammography, although there was a nonsignificant trend toward improved detection with BSGI.
CONCLUSION. BSGI has the highest sensitivity for the detection of invasive lobular carcinoma with a sensitivity of 93%, whereas mammography, sonography, and MRI showed sensitivities of 79%, 68%, and 83%, respectively. BSGI is an effective technique that should be used to evaluate patients with suspected cancer and has a promising role in the diagnosis of invasive lobular carcinoma.
Considering how sales of Dilon’s equipment are already going (see press release below), the future for BSGI looks pretty bright.
Abstract: Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Detection with Mammography, Sonography, MRI, and Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging
Press release: Dilon Technologies Leads Molecular Breast Imaging Expansion
Flashback: Breast Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI) Goes to RSNA