New diagnostic technology

Peaches70

Have you all heard about Breast Specific Gamma Imaging? I just read about this. It is supposed to provide higher sensitivity for detection of DCIS than mammo or MRI. It found lessions as small as 2 mm. It uses a radioactive tracing agent that makes the cancerous cells show up as hot spots on the image. According to the articles, it is "ideal" for those of us with dense breasts and hard to see trouble spots.

Indigoblue

Thanks Peaches70 for the info. Where did you read about this? I am a trip neg dense breast High Risk; surgeon and onc always in denial about many of the new information and articles I haul into their offices. Usually it's old news
according to them, or there is some excuse as to why it doesn't apply to me.

Personally, I think it's the insurance companies and they don't like to pay for expensive testing. I bet this is a pricey one!lol

Have a great day!
Indi

leaf

It sounds like its still experimental, or at least only available at major institutions. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez...Pubmed_RVDocSum http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez..._RVAbstractPlus http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez..._RVAbstractPlus http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez...Pubmed_RVDocSum
To me, it sounds like at least sometimes they use a radioactively labeled tracer, which may or may not be of concern to some people. I think technicium labeling is used in some other imaging, but I do not know.

Thanks again, Peaches 70. Best of luck on your exams. I'm thinking of you.

Peaches70

www.medicalnewstoday.com/sections/breast_cancer/ is the link I use to check news.

leaf

Thanks for the link, Peaches70. I'm bookmarking it.

Anonymous

Has anyone heard of the Cone Beam Breast CT scanner? (CBBCT) They have shown it a few times recently on the discovery health channel. It takes a 3-dimensional view of the breast with no compression involved (lying on stomach with breasts in "cones", kinda like breast MRI). Apparently developed at the University of Rochester (NY). I called and e--mailed them many months ago to see if I would qualify for the study and never got a response. (I'm high risk due to the combination of LCIS and family history). I may try them again and see if someone answers, but I'm wondering in anyone here knows if it's offered anywhere else?? It sounded like it may be available to the general public someday soon. (but it will be interesting what the cost may be and who will qualify).

Indigoblue

Cone Beam Breast CT scanner, never heard of it. Will look for info and ask onc about it; thenk awb!

Leaf, thanks for the sites, very good info. Filed and copied to take to the surgeon and oncologist. Seems like it would be nice to have a test precisely pinpointing the tumor, since mine was missed; dense breasts, and meanwhile, the other follow-up tests are not reliable, often with false positives or no detection until a mets has occurred.

((hugs to all))

Indi

leaf

It looks like some places that have published papers on it (or on its setup-I'm not saying they are ready for patients)
Univ Ca Davis (this probably originated with small animals since they have a prominent vet school) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez...Pubmed_RVDocSum

U Mass http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez...Pubmed_RVDocSum

U Iowa http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez...Pubmed_RVDocSum

Rush Univ in Ill. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez...Pubmed_RVDocSum

(not a complete listing)

Anonymous

Leaf--thanks for the websites. (I'm actually closer to the one at UMass than Rochester, but since it was developed at Rochester, I would probably try to go there if I could get into a study.)

Anonymous

Post deleted by Melissa & Tami

leaf

Welcome, Tammyadutt. I can't imagine what I would do without this site.
Wishing you breast, and all other, health.