Molecular Breast Imaging

We use Breast Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI), which is a molecular breast imaging test, at my practice in certain circumstances. This is a nuclear medicine study where a radioactive substance is injected into an IV catheter in the patient’s arm, and images of the breasts are obtained with the patient in a seated position. The test looks for spots in the breast that become “hot”, or that take up the radiotracer more avidly than the surrounding tissue. Although not all hot spots will be cancerous, they do need to be checked with further tests. If the BSGI is negative, there is a very high likelihood that no cancer is present in the breast.

At my practice, we use MRI (in addition to mammography) to screen patients at high risk for breast cancer, to further evaluate questionable mammographic, sonographic, or clinical findings, and to fully evaluate both breasts in patients newly diagnosed with breast cancer. Sometimes a patient cannot have an MRI, and in those circumstances we will usually recommend a BSGI test instead. Patients unable to have an MRI (with contrast) include: claustrophobic patients; those with pacemakers or other implanted devices that are not MRI-compatible; patients with metal aneurysm clips in their brain, or with metal fragments in their eyes; severe kidney disease; patients whose bodies are too large for the MRI unit; allergy to Gadolinium contrast dye. We use Breast Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI), which is a molecular breast imaging test, at my practice in certain circumstances. This is a nuclear medicine study where a radioactive substance is injected into an IV catheter in the patient’s arm, and images of the breasts are obtained with the patient in a seated position. The test looks for spots in the breast that become “hot”, or that take up the radiotracer more avidly than the surrounding tissue. Although not all hot spots will be cancerous, they do need to be checked with further tests. If the BSGI is negative, there is a very high likelihood that no cancer is present in the breast.

At my practice, we use MRI (in addition to mammography) to screen patients at high risk for breast cancer, to further evaluate questionable mammographic, sonographic, or clinical findings, and to fully evaluate both breasts in patients newly diagnosed with breast cancer. Sometimes a patient cannot have an MRI, and in those circumstances we will usually recommend a BSGI test instead. Patients unable to have an MRI (with contrast) include: claustrophobic patients; those with pacemakers or other implanted devices that are not MRI-compatible; patients with metal aneurysm clips in their brain, or with metal fragments in their eyes; severe kidney disease; patients whose bodies are too large for the MRI unit; allergy to Gadolinium contrast dye.

Molecular breast imaging is also known as breast specific gamma imaging or BSGI. Molecular breast imaging is promising as it can find cancers with a sensitivity of less than 3mm (this is better than MRI). The drawback is the high level of radiation currently associated with MBI. There are many centers working on the technology of MBI to get the radiation level of MBI to an acceptable dose. I look forward to this advancement as I feel it would be an excellent, more sensitive screening test once the radiation level is lowered. Here is my overview of BSGI.

BSGI stands for breast specific gamma imaging. BSGI is a fairly new technique that involves injecting a radioactive substance technetium (t-99) into a patient's veins and then scanning their breast with a gamma camera.
The gamma camera takes images of the breast and the areas where the radioactive substance has concentrated (this may indicate a breast cancer) will show up darker.
Pros of BSGI are increased sensitivity for detecting tumors at a smaller size than other available imaging techniques.
Cons of BSGI are the higher amount of radiation the person is exposed to during the test.
Some considerations: This test is reasonable for a person to have performed if they are first diagnosed with breast cancer to assess for occult cancers in either breast. Another scenario is a person who cannot have an MRI but requires a more sensitive test. Currently this is NOT a test for women to have yearly, too much radiation!

To read more in depth information on BSGI please visit http://www.mybreastcanceranswers.com/bsgi-breast-specific-gamma-imaging

Resources:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/727881

http://www.gm-ideas.com/

www.dilon.com




Molecular breast imaging is also known as breast specific gamma imaging or BSGI. Molecular breast imaging is promising as it can find cancers with a sensitivity of less than 3mm (this is better than MRI). The drawback is the high level of radiation currently associated with MBI. There are many centers working on the technology of MBI to get the radiation level of MBI to an acceptable dose. I look forward to this advancement as I feel it would be an excellent, more sensitive screening test once the radiation level is lowered. Here is my overview of BSGI.

BSGI stands for breast specific gamma imaging. BSGI is a fairly new technique that involves injecting a radioactive substance technetium (t-99) into a patient's veins and then scanning their breast with a gamma camera.
The gamma camera takes images of the breast and the areas where the radioactive substance has concentrated (this may indicate a breast cancer) will show up darker.
Pros of BSGI are increased sensitivity for detecting tumors at a smaller size than other available imaging techniques.
Cons of BSGI are the higher amount of radiation the person is exposed to during the test.
Some considerations: This test is reasonable for a person to have performed if they are first diagnosed with breast cancer to assess for occult cancers in either breast. Another scenario is a person who cannot have an MRI but requires a more sensitive test. Currently this is NOT a test for women to have yearly, too much radiation!

To read more in depth information on BSGI please visit http://www.mybreastcanceranswers.com/bsgi-breast-specific-gamma-imaging

Resources:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/727881

http://www.gm-ideas.com/

www.dilon.com