Breast Cancer Detected with SER Imaging
Researchers from the University of California at San Francisco examined use of a new modality to detect recurrent breast cancer, high-spatial-resolution signal enhancement ratio (SER) imaging. The team completed a retrospective assessment of SER to determine the utility of this imaging method as a tool to predict the recurrence of breast cancer. The team reported their findings in the journal Radiology.
Between 1995 and 2002, gadolinium-enhanced MRI data with a three time point high resolution method was completed. Studies were completed in 48 women; the average age of the participants was 49.1 years. Based on the findings, women were classified into two groups: those who were recurrence-free and those who had disease recurrence.
Breast tumor volume was calculated by the clinicians based on the number of voxels, as well as determination of volume measurement based on SER values. The team determined a threshold which indicated those patients who were at high risk of having disease recurrence. Based on this algorithm, 75 percent of patients with recurrence and 100 percent of patients who died were identified.
Researchers noted that none of the patients in the recurrence-free group were misclassified. Key factors to differentiate the two groups included tumor volume with high and low SER, total tumor volume, and postchemotherapy tumor volume with high SER. However, only low and high SER tumor volumes were independent predictors of disease recurrence.
The researchers, thus, concluded that this imaging modality can be an appropriate tool to identify those patients who are at higher risk for recurrence of disease and mortality.
July 15, 2008 Related topics: New Technology & Innovation, Imaging, Diagnostic