Ultrasound-guided optical technique lowers biopsy rate
An ultrasound-guided diffuse optical technique may lower the rate at which women undergo breast biopsies for suspicious lesions, according to a study published in Radiology.
An ultrasound-guided diffuse optical technique may lower the rate at which women undergo breast biopsies for suspicious lesions, according to a study published in Radiology.
Diffuse optical tomography is a noninvasive imaging technique that measures light absorption within tissue to quantify blood content and blood oxygen levels. Once ultrasound locates the lesion, DOT is performed by shining infrared light into the area and measuring light absorption at two optical wavelengths.
In the study, 178 consecutive women underwent the technique on a previously identified solid lesion followed by a biopsy. Researchers computed total hemoglobin levels from the light absorption measured at two wavelengths and correlated the measurements with biopsy results. Tissue sample examinations revealed two in situ carcinomas, 35 carcinomas that measured <2 cm, 24 carcinomas >2 cm, and 114 benign lesions (2010;256:367-378). The sensitivity (92%) and specificity (93%) of the technique were greatest when evaluating cancers <2 cm in size.
DOT holds promise as an adjunct to diagnostic mammography and ultrasound for distinguishing early stage invasive breast cancers from benign lesions, the researchers said.
The Reading Room: Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Cancer Screenings, and COVID-19
November 3rd 2020In this podcast episode, Dr. Shalom Kalnicki, from Montefiore and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, discusses the disparities minority patients face with cancer screenings and what can be done to increase access during the pandemic.
What New Research Reveals About Novice Use of AI-Guided Cardiac Ultrasound
April 4th 2025In a study recently presented at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) conference, researchers found that novice use of AI-guided cardiac ultrasound after an AI-enabled electrocardiogram increased the positive predictive value for reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) or aortic valve stenosis by 33 percent.
