Bertrand Study Finds Significant Value In Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI) As An Adjunctive Procedure In Breast Diagnostics

Main Category: Breast Cancer
Also Included In: MRI / PET / Ultrasound;  Clinical Trials / Drug Trials;  Conferences
Article Date: 07 Mar 2008 - 0:00 PDT

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A recent study performed by Dr. Margaret Bertrand, Director of Breast Imaging at Solis Bertrand Breast Center in Greensboro, North Carolina demonstrated the significant value of Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI) as an adjunctive procedure in breast diagnostics; specifically demonstrating BSGI to be a useful and cost effective procedure in the breast diagnostic work up. The study results were recently presented at the Miami Breast Cancer Conference.

Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging is a molecular breast imaging technique used for the early detection of breast cancer and in the differentiation of malignant and benign tumors. It relies on advanced gamma imaging technology and mammographic positioning to optimize results. For this study BSGI was conducted with a commercially available high-resolution gamma camera, the Dilon 6800.

Dr. Bertrand's study evaluated the clinical impact of BSGI as an adjunctive imaging modality in a comparative analysis with other imaging methods; using tissue biopsy as the gold standard. The facility conducted diagnostic workup, including BSGI, on 98 lesions consisting of 69 malignancies.

Because imaging was prescribed as necessary, not all modalities were employed for each case. Since all patients had both mammography and BSGI, these were established as the constants with US and MRI as variables. Seventy-five percent (64/75) of the lesions detected when BSGI was compared to MRI had concordant BSGI and MRI findings with 11 discrepancies. In 74 of the 75 lesions BSGI was conducted pre-biopsy, while MRI was conducted post biopsy, therefore it is not certain if the MRI findings were positive due to biopsy or disease.

In addition, BSGI was False Negative (FN) in 3 patients and False Positive (FP) in 2, while MRI was FN for 1 patient and FP in 4. BSGI detected cancer in four women who could not comply with the MRI order, and based on this group of 75 patients who had both studies, Bertrand concluded that a work up of BSGI in place of MRI would have saved $58,107 healthcare dollars.

"Breast Specific Gamma Imaging is very important now in my decision of whether or not to biopsy when the mammogram, ultrasound, and physical exam are inconclusive. Patients really benefit from having fewer short interval follow-ups and fewer unnecessary biopsies," said Dr. Bertrand. "And, with the added benefit of lower cost and higher patient compliance of BSGI as compared to breast MRI, it may be used to improve detection while lowering healthcare costs."

According to Gerald Kolb, Chief Knowledge Officer of Solis Women's Health, "We are very proud of Dr. Bertrand and her work establishing the viability of BSGI in a clinical breast center setting. Solis is dedicated to improving the quality of care for our patients, and BSGI appears to be raising the bar for care in a manner that is also cost effective."

About Dilon Technologies LLC

Dilon Technologies is bringing innovative new medical products to the market based on research conducted at leading national research laboratories. Dilon's cornerstone product is the Dilon 6800 Gamma Camera -- a high-resolution, compact gamma camera, now being used to perform Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI), a molecular imaging technique that images the metabolic activity of breast lesions through radiotracer uptake, and other general nuclear medicine imaging. Several leading medial centers around the country are now offering BSGI to their patients, including: Beth Israel Medical Center, New York; George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, D.C.; Alexian Brothers Medical Center, Chicago; Methodist Hospital, Philadelphia; and West Valley Imaging, Las Vegas.

To find out more about BSGI or the Dilon 6800 Gamma Camera please visit http://www.dilon.com

Dilon Technologies LLC
http://www.dilon.com

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