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New
technology could mean fewer breast biopsies
June 2007 (Medialink) -- A
revolutionary new imaging technology is expected
to help physicians better classify breast
lesions. Elasticity imaging is an ultrasound
technique recently cleared by the FDA that
allows doctors to measure the stiffness of
tissue, relative to surrounding areas.
This new technique may
significantly reduce the need for biopsies. In
fact, the American Cancer Society confirms only
20 percent of biopsies turn up positive for
cancer.
In a recent elasticity
imaging study, doctors studied 166 suspected
breast tumors in 99 women scheduled for
biopsies. The lesions were measured using both
the standard ultrasound technique and elasticity
ultrasound. The results showed that elasticity
imaging correctly identified all 17 malignant
lesions and 105 of 106 benign lesions.
Additional studies
on elasticity imaging are currently underway.
Doctors say thanks to this new technology the
number of biopsies being performed may be
reduced by 50 to 70%, greatly relieving patients
of the stress and trauma of enduring invasive
and unnecessary procedures.
