PET developer Naviscan is touting a study that shows that positron emission mammography (PEM) is useful for performing local staging in women with newly diagnosed breast cancer.
Researchers from the University of Cincinnati, led by Dr. Amy Argus, assistant professor of radiology, concluded that when additional breast abnormalities are identified by PEM, accurate PEM-guided biopsy can be performed on the same day as the diagnostic imaging. This decreases patients' radiation dose and may expedite their preoperative workup.
In the prospective study, 18 women with breast cancer classified as BI-RADS 5 identified on mammography or ultrasound underwent a PEM scan and same-day PEM-guided biopsy on 24 index and satellite lesions. Lesion size ranged from 4 mm to 60 mm, with a mean size of 16 mm.
Results were concordant for 83% of lesions and discordant for the remaining lesions, due to patient movement and operator experience.
The study was presented at the American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS) annual meeting this week in Chicago.
