See What MattersTM
Breast Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI) is a molecular breast imaging technique that reveals cancerous lesions, even in women with difficult-to-diagnose breasts.
This innovative technology goes beyond mammography, MRI and ultrasound, and has emerged as an affordable, next step imaging technique for diagnosing breast cancer.
BSGI and the Dilon 6800Ň Gamma Camera help you and your doctor see what matters.
About Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI)
Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI) with the Dilon 6800 Gamma Camera is a complementary procedure used as a "next-step” to help detect breast cancer when more information is needed after a questionable mammogram. BSGI is able to detect early stage cancers, identify suspicious and difficult-to-read breast abnormalities and help doctors distinguish benign from malignant tumors.
Mammography is still considered the gold standard in breast cancer detection, but there are times when diagnostic challenges occur due to the complexity of breast tissue. A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast used to image tissue structure and density. The challenge arises not only because breast tissue types have varying degrees of density, but also because cancers are also dense in nature and can appear the same as normal tissue on a mammogram. Because BSGI works more on a functional or cellular level, it provides vital tumor information from another important imaging perspective; helping your doctor more accurately determine if an area of concern is cancerous or not.
Patients who undergo BSGI are first injected in the arm with a small amount of radiotracer agent. The radiotracer is absorbed by all cells in their body, and because cancerous cells have a higher rate of metabolic activity, they absorb a greater amount of the tracer and appear as "dark spots” to the Dilon 6800. BSGI is highly sensitive in its ability to detect breast abnormalities, and most importantly is very specific in its ability to help doctors differentiate between benign and malignant tissue.
BSGI with the Dilon 6800 Gamma Camera can also reliably detect very small cancers, as small as 1 mm in clinical testing that can sometimes be missed by a mammogram. Same-day evaluation and imaging at the point-of-care are also possible with BSGI. The ease of use and speed of results are critical to those seeking peace of mind during potentially challenging examinations. Lastly, because of the unique design of the Dilon 6800 and its ability to completely rotate around the breast with only minor compression, the examination is comfortable.
Who benefits from BSGI with the Dilon 6800Ň Gamma Camera
You may be one of the many patients who are likely to benefit from using BSGI with the Dilon 6800 Gamma Camera. This is especially true if you have:
· Dense breast tissue
· Indeterminate areas found on a mammogram
· Lumps that can be felt but not seen with mammography or ultrasound
· Implants and breast augmentation
· Scarring from previous surgeries
· Increased risk, due to personal or family history of breast cancer
Frequently Asked Questions
· What is the benefit of early detection of breast cancer?
· Why do I need further evaluation following my mammogram?
· Why does Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) affect mammogram results?
· What is the difference between a false negative and a false positive screening?
· What is Functional Imaging vs. Structural Imaging?
· What is a palpable mass?
· How long does the Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI) procedure take?
· Is the BSGI procedure covered by insurance?
· Is the BSGI procedure comfortable?
· Nuclear medicine sounds dangerous. What affect will it have on my overall health?
What is the benefit of early detection of breast cancer?When breast cancer is found and treated in early stages — before it spreads too far — it is highly curable. If the cancer is discovered and treated early, the five-year relative survival rate is greater than 90 percent.
Why do I need further evaluation following my mammogram?Some mammograms are difficult to interpret due to dense breast tissue, scarring from previous surgery, scattered calcifications or implants. Further testing may be necessary for an accurate evaluation.
Why does Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) affect mammogram results?HRT replaces lost estrogen. During menopause, estrogen levels drop causing breast tissue to shrink and more fatty tissue to develop. For women on HRT, however, breast tissue remains dense and therefore is difficult to evaluate. (This is a concern due to the fact that HRT begins at an age when women's risk of breast cancer is significantly higher.)
What is the difference between a false negative and a false positive screening?A false negative is when a mammogram shows no sign of cancer, but cancer is present. This can happen when normal breast tissue hides breast cancer, so that it does not show up on the mammogram. A false positive is an abnormality that looks like cancer on a mammogram, but turns out to be normal. To make up for these limitations, testing beyond mammography is necessary.
What is Functional Imaging vs. Structural Imaging?Functional imaging, like BSGI, is able to take a picture of cell function. Meaning the picture can help identify what a cell is doing, and if it is "behaving” like a cancerous or normal cell. Structural or anatomical imaging, such as mammography or ultrasound, reveals the structures within a breast, like cysts, glands, ducts, tumors or scar tissue.
What is a palpable mass?A palpable mass or lesion is a lump you can feel by touch. When young women feel lumps in their breasts, they are usually benign cysts, or clumps of normal glandular tissue.
How long does the Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI) procedure take?The procedure lasts from 45 minutes to an hour for all of the image angles to be completed.
Is the BSGI procedure covered by insurance?Insurance policies and procedures can vary. This procedure is generally covered by Medicare/Medicaid and most private carriers.Please consult with your insurance provider.
Is the BSGI procedure comfortable?With BSGI, only moderate pressure is required to help form and stabilize the breast, making it much more comfortable than a mammogram. Also, patients are seated during the entire procedure.
Nuclear medicine sounds dangerous. What affect will it have on my overall health?Nuclear medicine does use radiation, but in very low amounts. The drug used is called Sestamibi and the majority of the drug leaves your body within hours after administration. The radiation exposure from BSGI is exactly the same radiation dose that a patient would receive in a cardiac stress test, a common procedure that has been safely utilized for more than 15 years.
BSGI Website LinkTo learn more about Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging with the Dilon 6800 Gamma Camera visit: http://www.dilon.com/
Although Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI) is a strong diagnostic tool, like all forms of medical imaging it is not perfect. BSGI is considered to be an adjunctive procedure to mammography, and should be used with the same limitations as with all medical imaging.
