The University of Arizona Health Sciences announced it has received a $3.3 million grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the National Institutes of Health to continue testing a novel imaging method for breast cancer detection that could provide an alternative to mammography.
According to the NCI, approximately 13.1% of women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, making advancements in screening technology critical. In countries with national health services, a significant number of women of screening age who do not receive regular screenings often cite the pain caused by compression as one of the reasons they avoid mammography.
Novel Imaging Strategy
In a recent study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT03954431), researchers are currently working to develop an advanced breast computed tomography (CT) system that does not require physical compression of the breast and eliminates tissue overlap. Instead, the novel imaging system uses detailed CT scans capable of creating high-resolution three-dimensional images.
Srinivasan Vedantham, PhD, DABR, FAAPM
“With our technology, there is a hole on the table and the woman lies prone with the breast through the hole. The tube spins around 360 degrees,” explained Srinivasan Vedantham, PhD, DABR, FAAPM, Professor in the Department of Medical Imaging at the University of Arizona College of Medicine–Tucson and a member of the University of Arizona Cancer Center. “There is nothing in contact with the breast—no compression, nothing. [The patients] lie face down, and it takes 10 seconds to image each breast,” he added.
The researchers plan to use the grant to refine a noncompression CT scanner prototype that was tested in a group of 92 women. The grant will focus on advanced image reconstruction techniques and recruiting 600 additional volunteers to help test the breast CT system—which will be compared with three-dimensional mammography, the current standard in breast cancer detection.
The researchers hope their novel imaging strategy could significantly enhance early breast cancer detection and diagnosis and improve cancer detection in the 50% of women with dense breasts. “The advantage of breast CT is we have a whole [three-dimensional] image. It would have better sensitivity in detecting breast cancer, particularly for women with dense breasts. Our goal is to enhance breast cancer screening technology to improve early detection and outcomes for patients,” Dr. Vedantham said.
The researchers noted that the applications of their study may extend beyond breast imaging and could one day be used to improve radiation therapy, surgical planning, and detailed imaging of other major organ systems.
