Breast Enhanced Scintigraphy Testing Distinguishes Between Normal, Inflammatory Breast Changes, and Breast Cancer: A Prospective Analysis and Comparison With Mammography

Abstract

The detection of breast cancer has primarily focused on anatomic findings, whereas assessment of physiologic information using nuclear imaging has been used for the detection of heart disease. Using this approach, the authors developed a method (breast enhanced scintigraphy test [BEST]) for differentiation of breast tissue by enhancing the delivery of isotope. To determine if this technique could distinguish between normal (Nl), inflammatory changes of the breast (ICB), and breast cancer (CA), 100 women were prospectively studied using BEST imaging, and results were compared with mammography and pathology findings using either biopsy or ductoscopy approaches. Mammography demonstrated a sensitivity and specificity of 69% and 84%, respectively. Using BEST imaging, maximal count activity (MCA) was able to distinguishbetween Nl, ICB, and CA. The results of 2-tailed ttest analysis demonstrated statistically significant differences between Nl and ICB MCA ( P ≤ .001); ICB and CA MCA ( P ≤ .001); and N1 and CA MCA ( P ≤ .001). Using MCA results obtained via BEST imaging, breast tissue was able to be differentiated, whereas mammography was able to detect breast cancer in only 69% of cases and incorrectly identified cancer in 16% of cases.