Monday May 21 , 2012
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PET Scan - Breast Cancer

PET Scan for Breast Cancer - Overview & Techniques

Archer Radiology offers a PET scan for breast cancer.

Although PET imaging is not used widely in the treatment of breast cancer, it is being seen increasingly as a valuable tool for the detection of breast cancer in its early stages.

PET uses the radioactive tracer FDG. By tracing the rate at which cells absorb FDG, a PET scan shows whether the cells are cancerous or healthy, since cancer cells absorb the substance faster than healthy ones. Thus the physician can determine from the PET image whether abreast mass detected is benign or malignant.

In addition to detecting breast cancer, PET scanningis valuable during the staging phase. A PET scan is the most accurate method available of ascertaining whether the disease has spread to other areas of the body. PET also aids in patient recovery by detecting the responsiveness of the breast tumor to therapy. And a PET scan will show whether the treated lesions are showing signs of cancer recurrence.

PET Scan for Breast Cancer - Alternative Names & Explanations

PET scan for metastatic bone disease, PET bone scan, breast cancer detection, staging metastatic disease

PET Scan for Breast Cancer - Benefits

• Establishing how advanced the cancer is and whether it has spread to other parts of the body

• Helping physicians and patients decide on courses of treatment that are tailored to patients' individual conditions and needs

• Determining early on whether chemotherapy or other treatments are working as intended

• Detecting whether the disease is recurring after treatments are completed and assisting physicians in determining a site that is appropriate for biopsy, if necessary

There are many new and emerging molecular imaging technologies that can benefit breast cancer patients. Other molecular imaging procedures under development often combine imaging systems to form hybrid technologies that improve accuracy and allow physicians to see how cancer may be affecting other systems in the body. One of the more promising research areas is in investigational PET imaging biomarkers, such as such as fluorothymidine (FLT) and fluoroestrogen (FES). FLT has promise for demonstration of tumor proliferation and FES for demonstration of estrogen receptors.

PEM is a high-resolution PET scanner that provides functional imaging specifically for breast cancer detection. PEM can isolate and enhance breast images with more accuracy than full-body PET scans and works much like a full-body PET scans. First, the patient is injected with a very small amount of a radiotracer such as fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), which contains both sugar and a radioactive element. If cancer is present, cells begin to grow at a much faster rate than in normal cells, feeding on sugars like glucose.

The radiotracer travels through the body and is absorbed by the tissues or the organ being studied. The patient is then examined with detectors, which are mounted on compression paddles and are used to take an image of the breast. Similar to conventional mammography, the breast is slightly compressed as it is imaged. However, PEM images are able to produce much more accurate images of smaller lesions.

PEM is often used to help physicians and patients newly diagnosed with breast cancer make more informed decisions about surgery and other courses of treatment. Before surgery is undertaken, for example, PEM provides physicians with a tool to pinpoint the location of tumors and help determine whether patients can safely avoid mastectomy or breast removal. PEM has been shown to have a high accuracy in correctly identifying tumors. When used with other imaging modalities, PEM can reduce the number of biopsies required and improve surgical planning.

In addition, PEM may be especially helpful for detecting and determining the size of a certain type of breast cancer called ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), which makes up about 30 percent of reported breast cancers and can be difficult to identify with conventional technologies.

Breast Cancer PET Scan - Images

Breast cancer in 55-year-old female    Breast cancer as shown in PET and CAT scans    

Breast Cancer PET Scan - Common Indications & Positive Findings

  • Hypermetabolic foci in breast or axillary nodes
  • Hypermetabolic foci in skeleton, suspicious for osseous metastases
  • Foci of increased uptake of FDG in cervical or clavicular area
  • Osseous foci of increased uptake of FDG
  • Focal lesion posterior to brachlocephalic vein consistent with metastase
  • Focal uptake in iliac crest without identifiable CT correlate
  • Areas of activity and sclerosis in ribs
  • Supraclavicular and mediastinal lymph node metastases
  • Metabolically active celiac node metastases
  • Multiple metastatic lung nodules
  • Bony metastatic disease in cervicothoracic and lumbar spine
  • Lytic areas within thoracolumbar spine
  • Medial lesion demonstrating marked FDG uptake

Breast Cancer PET Scan - References & Links

Contact us today to schedule your PET scan for breast cancer.

  • If you are looking for professional radiology services at your imaging site/center, call us at 1-800-626-8315 or use our contact form and contact us for a consultation.

  • If you live in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Glendale, Mid-Wilshire and need to schedule a radiology examination such as a MRI, CT Scan, Ultrasound, X ray, or PET scan, contact us to schedule an appointment.

  • If you are in search of other things, we're surprisingly resourceful.  Call us at 1-800-626-8315 or contact us via our contact form.

 
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  • PET scan for breast cancer. Los Angeles radiology. Schedule a breast cancer PET scan in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, or Glendale.
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