The Breast Health Institute in Orlando, FL., is providing local women with an innovative new procedure for the diagnosis of breast cancer when post-mammogram evaluation is indicated: Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI) with the Dilon 6800 Gamma Camera. Since the acquisition of the Dilon 6800 earlier this year, more than 20 cancerous breast lesions that were undetected through mammography or that produced inconclusive results have been accurately diagnosed with the help of BSGI.

According to the American Cancer Society's report, Breast Cancer Facts & Figures 2005-2006, on average mammography will not detect 10 percent to 20 percent of breast cancers in women without symptoms, for whom further testing is recommended. Although mammography is a highly sensitive screening tool -- which means it is very effective in detecting abnormalities in the breast, in some cases mammography provides low specificity in identifying the nature of suspicious lesions, as indicated by the high rate of abnormalities that appear to be cancer but turn out to be normal. In addition, mammograms are sometimes difficult to interpret due to dense breast tissue and scarring from previous surgery, or when implants are present. In these cases additional diagnostic testing is necessary.

Patients who require an adjunctive procedure to mammography include high- risk women with equivocal mammograms, dense breast tissue, palpable lumps that can be felt but not seen with mammography or ultrasound, and those with known cancer to detect additional lesions that mammography may have missed.

Ralph J. Tullo, MD, CPE, Medical Director and Radiologist of the Breast Health Institute, says breast cancer is highly curable when it is found and treated in its early stages. He advocates that mammography limitations can be mitigated by the use of BSGI. "We find BSGI with the Dilon 6800 Gamma Camera to be a proven and effective tool in the early detection of breast cancer when mammography is inconclusive," said Dr. Tullo. "Even though mammography will remain the primary screening method, when we encounter a challenging breast case we can count on BSGI with the Dilon 6800 Gamma Camera to help us more accurately detect breast cancer."

Through multiple clinical studies, BSGI has demonstrated a high sensitivity by identifying early stage cancers as small as 3 mm, and has consistently provided a specificity of 92 percent, significantly helping to differentiate between benign and malignant lesions. According to recently released data, presented at the Radiological Society of North America meeting (RSNA) last November, BSGI with the Dilon 6800 provides an equivalent sensitivity but improved specificity in detecting malignant tumors in the breast when compared to another widely used diagnostic procedure, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

"When our patients have a BSGI study," said Dr. Tullo, "they receive a small amount of a radiotracer agent that is absorbed by all cells in the body. Because cancerous cells have higher metabolic activity, they absorb a greater amount of the tracer and light up to reveal themselves as 'hot spots.' Using the Dilon 6800 high-resolution gamma camera, we can then image and more effectively differentiate cancerous from non-cancerous tissue."

The Breast Health Institute's commitment to provide patients the most advanced technology in breast health has been heightened by the Dilon 6800 Gamma Camera. Since its addition to the center, several patients have undergone BSGI tests as a complement to mammography. Among that group, many tested positive for breast cancer -- which biopsy results later confirmed; and many others were provided with peace of mind from the negative results.

For Cassie Yde, a 58-year-old woman with no history of breast cancer in her family, testing with the Dilon 6800 was vital to the early detection of a cancerous breast lesion that produced inconclusive and questionable results through both mammography and ultrasound.

To avoid a long wait for an appointment with a surgeon, which can take days and even weeks, Yde was advised to visit the Breast Health Institute. Within a week and with the help of BSGI, Dr. Tullo effectively confirmed the suspicious lump that was previously difficult to interpret due to Yde's dense breast tissue, was a cancerous breast lesion. She was later diagnosed with a moderately invasive breast cancer. "It helped me to move the process along so much faster and it was great to have confirmed results by the time I saw my surgeon," said Yde. She is scheduled to undergo surgery by the end of this month.

BSGI with the Dilon 6800 is also much more convenient and comfortable compared to a mammogram. "Knowing that I was going to receive the results the same day of the study and that Dr. Tullo was going to be there to explain them to me gave me peace of mind," explained Yde. BSGI with the Dilon 6800 only lasts 45 minutes to an hour, but patients are seated the whole time. "And unlike mammography, with the Dilon camera my breasts are not compressed, so I don't feel pain," Yde added. Most insurance companies cover BSGI with the Dilon 6800 Gamma Camera.

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), in 2005 an estimated 211,240 new cases of invasive breast cancer were diagnosed among women and approximately 40,410 were expected to die from the disease. The ACS guidelines for the early detection of breast cancer vary depending on a woman's age. But for women age 40 and older, an annual mammogram, an annual clinical breast examination, and optional monthly breast self-examination are recommended. The Breast Health Institute offers expert physicians and staff, state-of-the-art facilities, and advanced diagnostic and treatment techniques for breast cancer patients in the Orlando area. The center is located at 300 North Lake Destiny Road, Maitland, FL 32751.

Patients who wish to learn more about BSGI with the Dilon 6800 Gamma Camera being performed at the Breast Health Institute, can call the center at 407-699-6266 or visit http://www.breasthealthorlando.com .

About the Breast Health Institute

The Breast Health Institute is a leading breast health facility in Orlando, FL., that provides a multi disciplinary team approach to improve breast cancer outcomes, using advanced technology and extensive training for the earliest detection and treatment of breast abnormalities. The center offers mammography, breast ultrasound, biopsy procedures, Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging with the Dilon 6800, and support services. For more information on the Breast Health Institute visit http://www.breasthealthorlando.com .

About Dilon

Dilon Technologies LLC is bringing innovative new medical products to the market based on research conducted at leading national research laboratories. Dilon's cornerstone product is the Dilon 6800 Gamma Camera - a high- resolution, anatomic-specific gamma camera, which is now being used to perform Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI), a molecular imaging technique that images the metabolic activity of breast lesions through radiotracer uptake. Several leading medial centers around the country are now offering BSGI to their patients, including: Beth Israel Medical Center, New York; George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, D.C.; Alexian Brothers Medical Center, Chicago; Breast Health Institute, Orlando; and West Valley Imaging, Las Vegas. For more information on Dilon visit http://www.dilon.com .

Source: prnewswire