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New screening test for dense breasts?

Page last modified on: October 7, 2008
Question from Mimi55: I heard that there is a new scan available for women with dense breasts. It uses a radioactive tracer, I believe. Can you give us more information on this, and is reasonable to ask for this instead of my yearly MRI?
Answer —Beth DuPree, M.D., F.A.C.S.: The scan that you're asking about is the PEM scan, the PET scan for the breast as I had previously mentioned. The tracer is a radioactive tracer that is injected, and then the breast is scanned to try to detect very early cancers and also evaluate for multiple areas of cancer in the same breast.

At this point in time the PEM is available at certain radiology facilities, but it has not yet replaced the MRI. There are going to be studies in the very near future that will help us to determine whether PEM has the ability to replace other studies, or if it will be used in addition to mammography, ultrasound, and MRI to help to give us a clearer picture of exactly what is happening within the breast tissue. Biopsy of an abnormal area is still the gold standard by which we practice medicine. Therefore, abnormal areas on studies such as MRIs and PEMs would need to have a confirmatory biopsy to prove that they are truly cancer.

On Wednesday, February 15, 2006, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Risk Reduction. Lynn C. Hartmann, M.D. and moderator Beth Baughman DuPree, M.D., F.A.C.S. answered your questions about a variety of topics such as screening with mammograms, MRIs, and ultrasounds; breast biopsies; lifestyle changes that make a difference; and making hard decisions about prophylactic surgeries.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Lynn C. Hartmann, M.D.Lynn Hartmann, M.D. is a professor of oncology at the Mayo Clinic and associate director for education of the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center.

Beth Baughman DuPree, M.D., F.A.C.S.Beth Baughman DuPree, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a general surgeon. Her clinical practice is located at Holy Redeemer Hospital and St. Mary Medical Center.

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