And now, molecular breast imaging

MANILA, Philippines - Consider these: Forty percent of women in Asia, including the Philippines, have dense breast tissue. About half of women below 50 years old have dense breast tissue. Beyond 50, the breast, which a mixture of fatty and dense tissue, becomes more fatty.

Still, about a third of women over 50 have dense breast tissue. Dense breast tissue is an independent risk factor for breast cancer. While x-ray mammography remains as the gold standard for the detection of early breast cancers, it is significantly less accurate in women with dense breasts. Thus, spotting a tumor in dense tissue becomes an issue.

A more accurate means of screening for and diagnosing breast cancer in women with dense breasts is needed.  David Hashimoto, GE Healthcare general manager for Asia Pacific Molecular Imaging, Computed Tomography and Advantage Workstation, says, “You cannot manage what you cannot see. With early detection while the lesion is still very small (less than one centimeter), longevity is increased. There is a correlation between size and survival.”

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic have developed a new technology to address the dense breast issue. Called molecular breast imaging or MBI, the new nuclear medicine technique provides high sensitivity in the detection of lesions and high-resolution imaging of the breast, which proves to be a valuable tool in the evaluation of the dense breast. Dr. Antonio Garcia, an expert and chair of the department of  nuclear medicine at Manila Doctors Hospital, explains, “MBI provides functional rather than purely anatomic information about breast lesions. Tumor cells absorb the radioactive tracer that is injected into the body and emit light that is captured by a special camera. A high concentration of light indicates the presence of tumor cells.”

MBI uses a different detection material, Hashimoto adds. The sensor acts more rapidly and has higher sensitivity. It has been described as laser-like. It is highly precise. There exist several plants around the world for its manufacture, and GE owns one of them, located in Rehobot, Israel. “We like to have control from the very start of the process,” Hashimoto shares. “The plant is very impressive.”

MBI, however, does not replace mammography as a screening tool, but rather, complements it. Mammography continues to be the first step in the diagnosis of a suspected abnormality, Dr. Garcia clarifies. MBI is best  in such cases as “when the mammogram is discordant with clinical findings (as, for example, a normal mammogram in the setting of a palpable mass) or in high-risk and difficult-to-diagnose patients in whom increased breast density renders mammography less accurate.”

Imagine the cost of treatment and follow-up care especially in advanced cases where screening options were limited or not available.

The higher the stage of the cancer, the higher the cost. And the rate of survival is lower. More accurate breast screening provides more chances for containment. Longevity is increased.  Early detection saves lives.

The new technology is already being used in many parts of the world, including the US and Europe, and GE Healthcare is ready to introduce it in the Philippines. With the early adoption of the new technology in the country, there is the opportunity to lead and be recognized as a center of excellence in Asia. “Our goal is to promote awareness and increase access to the new technology,” says Hashimoto.