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Electrical impedance imaging (EIS) has
been developed for use in conjunction with mammography to assist in the diagnosis of
breast cancer (carcinoma). The T-scan system is not yet available for use as a breast
cancer screening tool. The T-scan is a non-invasive breast imaging system that
assists in the detection of early stage tumors and pre-cancerous lesions without x-rays or
discomfort to the patient. Unlike mammography or sestamibi
nuclear medicine imaging, impedance imaging of the breast does not use radiation.
T-scan impedance imaging does not require compression of the breast (which can be
uncomfortable), and does not require a contrast media injection or biopsy sampling of the breast tissue via needle or
surgical incision.
The T-scan measures low level
bioelectric currents to produce real-time images of the electrical impedance properties of
the breast. The resulting impedance images of the breast tissue can be used to help
determine if the region of interest is normal tissue or a cancerous (malignant) tumor.
EIS/T-scan is Good for Imaging
Denser Breasts in Younger Women
Younger women have more dense breast
tissue than older women. Mammography does not show abnormalities or suspicious areas as
well in younger women with dense breasts. This is because the x-rays do not penetrate
dense tissue as well and thus the resulting mammogram image may have less contrast between
an abnormal area and the surrounding breast tissue. Dr. Scott Fields, one of the
researchers involved in the clinical trials of the T-scan systems found that impedance
scanning works well for small lesions in younger patients with dense breasts as an adjunct
to mammography.
EIS/T-scan is Used as a
Supplement to Mammography
Mammography is the only examination
that is FDA approved for use as a breast cancer screening tool. In other words,
mammography is the only imaging exam that is used to try to detect breast cancer in
asymptomatic women (women who have no sign or symptom of breast cancer such as a lump).
However, in addition to electrical
impedance imaging (EIS) of the breast, there are other imaging exams that are FDA approved
for use as supplements (adjuncts) to mammography. One or more of these adjunct tools may
be used when trying to determine if a suspicious area detected by mammography or physical
breast exam is cancerous:
Microcalcifications, tiny calcium
deposits in the breast which are often an early sign of breast cancer, can be seen
reliably with mammography. About half of the cancers detected by mammography appear as a
cluster of microcalcifications. The other tests listed above do not image calcifications
as well as mammography. This is because MR imaging, ultrasound, nuclear medicine, and EIS
do not provide the fine detail (spatial resolution) that is available with conventional
x-ray mammography. However, these adjunct exams are beneficial because they provide
excellent contrast resolution, which may make abnormalities easier to see since these
areas "stand out" more from surrounding tissue.
T-scan
Imaging of the Breast Has Several Benefits for Patient and Healthcare Professionals:
Diagnostically accurate, reliable, safe,
and useful for distinguishing benign versus malignant lesions (abnormalities)
Provides confident diagnosis and may
help reduce the number of unnecessary breast biopsies performed
Increases the early detection
of breast cancer to improve treatment outcome
T-scan imaging is non-invasive, does not
use radiation and does not require breast compression which can be uncomfortable
Works well in women of all ages,
including young women, women with dense breast tissue and women under estrogen/hormone
replacement therapy (HRT)
May access and image the axillary lymph
nodes
Since there are no x-rays repeat
examinations can safely be performed
Like ultrasound and digital mammography, T-scan yields an immediate
image (no delay waiting for film processing)
The images are digital so they can be
shared for consultation and archived easily
The T-scan system is easy to use and
requires minimal training for system operation
The T-scan system is small and
transportable and is cost effective to own and operate
Updated: January 27, 2000
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