IMDS(.0011)-Scientific American:New Light on Breast Cancer
By Kelli A. Miller
Computed tomography laser mammography scan A LARGE AREA of suspicious new blood-vessel growth supporting a cancer tumor is clear in an image made with computed tomography laser mammography (CTLM).
CTLM gives radiologists a colorful 3-D cross-sectional view of each breast. The bright green and white globes conjure the image of a lime Jell-O salad filled with fruit.
"We can look through the breast from the front, the side, the back and all the way through," explains Eric Milne, chief radiologist for Imaging Diagnostic Systems, Inc. The company is currently seeking approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an adjunct to mammography. It plans to eventually push for the technique's use as a screening tool.
The CTLM test, which is expected to cost patients about $150, revealed that Conlan's most recent lump was much larger than x-rays indicated, prompting her doctor to recommend a biopsy.
Cutting Back on Biopsies
Millions of dollars are spent each year on breast biopsies, the majority of which reveal that nothing is wrong. Experts say more informative imaging could dramatically reduce the number of unnecessary procedures.
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