Breast CT More Comfortable Than Mammo
Findings presented at the recent meeting of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine indicates that breast CT may one day be the alternative for mammography. One advantage of this approach is that it is less uncomfortable for patients, as reported in the Washington Post.
The researchers compared findings procured with breast CT and mammogram. There are a number of advantages associated with breast CT compared to traditional mammography. Each imaging modality offers uniques benefits. Breast CT is superior for detection of malignant lesions, whereas mammography is better in the detection of microcalcifications.
With imaging studies, malignancy is visualized in two different manners. It is either conceived as a spot or a mass lesion. These are both considered microcalcifications and are often early signs of malignancy.
Assessment of the breast completed with CT entails rotation of the machine around the entire breast. This allows creation of a three-dimensional picture of the breast. Scanning completed in this manner entails the same radiation delivery dose as used with conventional mammography.
The research team, based at the University of California Davis Medical Center, is also exploring other imaging modalities. The team has integrated a positron emission tomography (PET) scanner into their CT. Incorporation of such allows assessment of the metabolic activity of a mass.
The team is still hopeful that within the next five years, CT will have an increased role in breast cancer screening. It is more appealing to patients because it is less uncomfortable. To alter screening guidelines and use CT, detection of lesion must be equivalent to that achieved with mammography. The researchers also suspect that this approach will have a lower rate of false positives compared to mammography, which may further encourage use of this modality.
August 4, 2008 Related topics: Imaging, Trends, Diagnostic, Radiology, Hematology & Oncology