U.S. researchers found that it may be possible to reduce the radiation dose of breast-specific gamma imaging (BSGI) procedures by as much as 60% using a lower dose of the radiopharmaceutical, according to a study presented this week at the Breast Cancer Imaging: State of the Art 2011 conference in Bethesda, MD.
In the study led by Dr. Marcela Böhm-Vélez, from Weinstein Imaging Associates, BSGI procedures were performed at low-dose levels of 5, 10, and 15 mCi. The researchers compared image quality to procedures obtained with the conventional 20-mCi injections.
Böhm-Vélez said she and her colleagues were able to reduce the dose to 15 mCi with no substantial impact on breast tissue uptake or image quality. In addition, a 10-mCi image provided a very good, clinically viable image. The breast image quality using 5 mCi, however, was unsatisfactory.
Although the results are preliminary, a dose of 8 mCi is likely possible with current BSGI technology because breast tissue uptake was still sufficient at lower doses, the researchers suggested.
They plan to apply for additional funding to expand this research to a multicenter trial and investigate the effects of lower radiation dose on image quality.
