Dec 10, 2007 6:59 pm US/Eastern
Researchers Use New Device To Detect Breast Cancer
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have been looking at a new way to take a picture of the breast with the hopes of finding cancer more easily at the stage where it can be cured.
A local woman was actually quite lucky to be part of the study.
For Diane Thomas, standard tests did not find breast cancer.
"The normal mammogram machine did not pick it up," said Thomas. "I don't believe the sonograms picked it up either."
Even three biopsies were negative.
But she felt strongly about helping the fight against breast cancer, so she agreed to take part in research at the University of Pittsburgh.
"My mother had died of breast cancer, my husband's mother had breast cancer," said Thomas. "My thought was if there's anything I can do to help advance anything, I'd be glad to do the study."
Being in the study of a new breast imaging technique called tomosynthesis, she got an unexpected result.
"I get a phone call from the surgeon. 'Diane, we have found cancer.' I said, 'That can't be. You told me already with all these other tests, and I had a lot of tests.' Well, they found it on the tomosynthesis machine."
It's done like a regular mammogram and still involves compressing the breast.
But it takes a 3-D view with a CT scan in an arc around the breast.
You only get two dimensions with a standard x-ray type mammogram.
"It's a new way to find cancers that we couldn't find before," said
Dr. Jules Sumkin at Magee Women's Hospital. "
And it's taking mammography to the next level."
Some women have breast tissue that can hide any signs of cancer on a mammogram.
This new technology makes it easier to find any suspicious areas.
"It looked like a normal mammogram machine, and it had a half halo, so you had to lean back, and I thought, this is stupid," said Thomas. "Never again will I think that."
The machines are expensive, and as with many new techniques, testing will be expensive too.
It only takes a few seconds to do the tomosynthesis part of the exam, but then the machine will also take a regular mammogram.
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