For women at risk of breast cancer, diagnosing the disease can be traumatic as well as painful.
Mammograms, used as screening tools to detect breast cancer, are uncomfortable at best. And while they can locate abnormalities in the breast, mammograms cannot always determine whether those are cancerous or not.
Currently, most women who receive mammograms that are suspicious for malignancy may undergo an ultrasound test, followed by biopsy to gather tissue samples that can be observed under a microscope and studied for the presence of cancer cells.
A new technology called the SoftScan Optical Breast Imaging System is currently being studied as a complementary and potentially alternative diagnostic tool that could detect malignancies and possibly result in fewer invasive procedures.
In April 2006, the Robert and Carol Weissman Cancer Center at Martin Memorial became one of two sites in the United States authorized to begin trials, with two more scheduled to participate, along with eight centers in Canada. Through mid-September, 68 patients had participated in the study at Martin Memorial. Clinicians there are hoping to accrue roughly 200 patients.
“The hope is, this scan will differentiate between malignant and benign tissues,” says Christina Dunn, research coordinator and breast health navigator at Martin Memorial. “Hopefully it will prevent needless biopsies.”
SoftScan uses a low-level laser optical imaging system to measure the physiological and molecular composition of the breast. It measures the metabolic activity and blood flow in the breast tissue. Because cancer cells are metabolically more active than normal cells, blood flow to the cancer cells is increased. SoftScan measures the differences in blood flow to help differentiate between normal and malignant breast tissue.
“Mammography still remains the standard of care, but we know its not perfect,” says James J. Vopal, M.D., a surgeon on staff at Martin Memorial who specializes in diseases of the breast and the lead investigator of the local trial. “Right now we have to supplement mammography with ultrasound and MRI. Ultrasound is easy and inexpensive, MRI is not. SoftScan is painless and easy and that is a benefit. A lot of women are reluctant to have mammography done because it can be painful. SoftScan could be something better.”
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