[Optical mammography in preoperative patients].
OBJECTIVE
Research concerning alternative methods of breast imaging that may supplement or even replace mammography appears interesting for further improvement of diagnostic accuracy, for possible cost reduction and increased patient acceptance and compliance.


METHODS
119 pre-operative patients (59 carcinomas, 60 benign lesions) were examined on a prototype breast scanner in this fundamental research project. Images of the compressed breast that display light transmission and phase shift at wavelengths of 690, 750, 790 and 860 nm were obtained with scanning steps every 2 mm. Based on these images we could calculate further images.


RESULTS
Images displaying the division of two original transmission images appeared most useful, whereas phase images generally did not yield relevant additional information. A total of 51 out of 59 carcinomas (mean diameter: 21 mm) were visualised and diagnosed. Specificity in respect of lesion diagnosis was 28%. If surrounding tissue was included in the evaluation, the specificity dropped to 9%.


CONCLUSIONS
The method is not sufficiently developed and well-tried for clinical use. Future research might consider the development of tumour-specific contrast media.
Götz
L
L
Klinik für Diagnostische Radiologie der Martin-Luther-Universität Halle und Bereich Medizinische Technik der Siemens AG, Erlangen.
Heywang-Köbrunner
S H
SH
Schütz
O
O
Siebold
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D008327:Mammography / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014172:Transillumination / Q000295:instrumentation*
Optische Mammographie an präoperativen Patientinnen.