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Improved detection of breast cancer on FDG-PET cancer screening using breast positioning device
Hayato Kaida1, Masatoshi Ishibashi, Teruhiko Fujii
1Division of Nuclear Medicine, PET Center and Department of Radiology, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-Machi, Kurume, Fukuoka 830-0011, Japan. hayato@med.kurume-u.ac.jp
Objective:
The aim of this study was to investigate the detection rate of breast cancer by positron emission tomography cancer screening using a breast positioning device.
Methods:
Between January 2004 and January 2006, 1,498 healthy asymptomatic individuals underwent cancer screening by fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) at our institution; 660 of 1498 asymptomatic healthy women underwent breast PET imaging in the prone position using the breast positioning device to examine the mammary glands in addition to whole-body PET imaging. All subjects that showed abnormal (18)F-FDG uptake in the mammary glands were referred for further examination or surgery at our institution or a local hospital. Our data were compared with the histopathological findings or findings of other imaging modalities in our institution and replies from the doctors at another hospital.
Results:
Of the 660 participants, 7 (1.06%) were found to have breast cancers at a curable stage. All the seven cancers were detected by breast PET imaging, but only five of these were detected by whole-body PET imaging; the other two were detected by breast PET imaging using the breast positioning device.
Conclusions:
In cancer screening, prone breast imaging using a positioning device may help to improve the detection rate of breast cancer. However, overall cancer including mammography and ultrasonography screening should be performed to investigate the false-negative cases and reduce false-positive cases. The effectiveness of prone breast PET imaging in cancer screening should be investigated using a much larger number of cases in the near future.
