Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI) Uncovers Additional Breast Cancer in Newly Diagnosed Breast Cance...( American Journal of Surgery Study Rev...),Health

American Journal of Surgery Study Reveals Conclusive Findings

NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Feb. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Women facing a recent breast cancer diagnosis may find additional cancer in the same or opposite breast with further testing using Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI) according to a study published in the February 2009 "American Journal of Surgery." BSGI detected additional or more extensive breast cancer in the same or opposite breast in 10.9 percent of newly diagnosed patients according to the study.

BSGI, a molecular breast imaging technique, is a follow-up to mammography that can see lesions independent of tissue density and discover early stage cancers. With BSGI, the patient receives a pharmaceutical tracing agent that is absorbed by all the cells in the body. Due to their increased rate of metabolic activity, cancerous cells in the breast absorb a greater amount of the tracing agent than normal, healthy cells and generally appear as "hot spots" on the BSGI image. The Dilon 6800 Gamma Camera is a high-resolution, compact field-of-view gamma camera, optimized to perform BSGI.

"The research is important because it helps clarify the role of BSGI in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. We have found that these women can have more extensive disease that is not detected by mammography or ultrasonography. This is especially helpful in patients with dense breast tissue where additional evaluation of the remaining breast tissue is necessary," said Nathalie Johnson, M.D., general surgeon and surgical oncologist at Good Samaritan Hospital, Portland, Ore.

Johnson and her team conducted a retrospective review from two Portland, Ore. community-based breast imaging centers of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients in whom BSGI was performed as part of the imaging work-up. BSGI detected additional or more extensive malignancy in the same or opposite breast in 10.9 percent of newly diagnosed b
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