Research In Brief
This article was originally published in The Gray Sheet
Executive Summary
Breast cancer imaging: Naviscan PEM positron emission mammography scanner was more effective in differentiating between benign and cancerous lesions than MRI in women newly diagnosed with breast cancer, according to results of an NIH-sponsored, prospective, multi-year, 388-patient study released Oct. 29. PEM scans demonstrated 80% specificity, correctly distinguishing 151 of 189 benign lesions, compared to 66% specificity for MRI. In addition, combining PEM and MRI significantly increased a physician's ability to detect potentially cancerous lesions versus MRI alone. San Diego-based Naviscan's device is a high-resolution positron emission tomography system that can show the location as well as the metabolic phase of a lesion to help determine malignancy. The system launched in 2007 and is available at 35 sites worldwide