Biography
Biography: Gaiane M. Rauch
Abstract
Molecular breast imaging (MBI) is an emerging technique that utilizes small semiconductor-based γ-cameras in a mammographic configuration to provide high-resolution functional images of the breast and requires injection of radioactive tracer of Tc99m sestamibi. Unlike mammography that generates radiographic images based on breast anatomy and morphology, MBI generates functional images based on the physiological processes within the breast tissue. Therefore, in contrast to mammography, the sensitivity of MBI is not influenced by the density of the breast tissue, implants, architectural distortion, or scars from prior surgery or radiation. In patients with suspected breast cancer, MBI has an overall sensitivity of 90%, with a sensitivity of 82% for lesions less than 10 mm in size. Studies have shown that MBI has comparable sensitivity to breast MRI, however higher specificity. MBI has been proven to be able to detect additional ipsilateral and contralateral malignant foci in patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer with a sensitivity (88-95% vs 89-98%) equivalent to MRI but with higher specificity (74-90% vs 40-65%). Another promising MBI application is monitoring of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and assessment of residual disease, which may influence and alter surgical planning. MBI has been shown to be a useful supplemental screening modality to mammography, showing a sensitivity of 91% for detection of breast cancer in women with dense breasts. It was shown that addition of MBI to screening mammography provides lower cost per cancer detected than with screening mammography alone. MBI is a highly complementary functional breast imaging modality to existing anatomical techniques