|
March
11, 2005
MRI-guided
biopsy available for high-risk breast cancer evaluations
MGHS introduces newest technology to its patients
By JIM LAJOIE
Marquette General Hospital
Women
classified at high risk for breast cancer now have a non-surgical,
MRI-driven treatment modality available
to them at Marquette General Hospital.
An MRI-guided biopsy, the latest non-surgical advancement in evaluating breast
cancer in conjunction with breast MRI, can find the smallest breast abnormality
at the earliest possible stage of development. Women undergoing this revolutionary
procedure can have the area biopsied within 30 minutes without ever leaving
the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suite and without undergoing surgery for
a diagnosis.
The breast biopsy system being used at Marquette General is the first and
only vacuum-assisted breast biopsy device on the market capable of use under
MRI.
It’s a diagnostic biopsy option physicians at leading cancer centers
across the country — including the Upper
Michigan Cancer Center at Marquette
General — have been waiting to acquire for more than a decade.
“The MRI-guided technology allows us to biopsy difficult to see breast
abnormalities that we couldn’t see before,” said Dr.
Steve Min, a
radiologist on staff at Marquette General. “We’re very excited
about having this cutting-edge technology.”
The MRI evaluation of breast-guided biopsy system, Dr. Min adds, is not meant
to replace mammography. Instead, he says, it is another option for women who
have suspicious mammogram results.
The MRI-guided system is exciting news for women with a family or personal
history of breast cancer; those who have undergone previous breast surgery;
and women with dense breast tissue who cannot get accurate screenings with
other imaging technology.
According to Dr. Min, this high-risk population is often evaluated with MRI
to detect suspicious lesions or breast cancer at the earliest possible stage.
MRI-guided breast biopsy has proven to be as reliable as open surgery for acquiring
tissue samples that offer definitive pathological results.
“We can biopsy it with MRI to see if it is breast cancer,” Dr. Min
explains. “Its two biggest benefits are it (1) helps us find suspicious
areas, and (2) aids us in pre-surgical planning.”
MGHS is one of two healthcare facilities in the state — William Beaumont
Hospital in Detroit, being the other — to offer the service.
Because it is air-driven, the system performs effectively under MRI, making
it usable in the presence of the magnetic imaging field.
The rate of breast MRI scanning doubles every year, but until now, there has
been no effective or economic biopsy option.
"For a high-risk population, the device really lets us do something about
what we see on MRI," said Dr.
Todd Bostwick, a radiologist on staff at Marquette
General. “It offers patients a painless, non-surgical biopsy option that
leaves no scarring.”
Tissue samples can be acquired every 3.5 seconds with the new device, 10 times
faster than with other vacuum-assisted breast biopsy systems on the market.
"Early detection saves lives, and with this system, we’ll be able
to detect lesions that were not previously seen,” Dr. Min said. “Early
detection is essential in breast cancer treatment. We can help some women get
a diagnosis without having to undergo surgery.”
MRI breast scanning is the most sensitive imaging modality available, detecting
suspicious lesions or breast cancer at the earliest possible stage of development
with a 70-90 percent accuracy rate.
“The new trend in identifying and sampling suspicious areas in the breast
using MRI is great news for women who had no real alternative to surgical biopsy
until now,” Dr. Bostwick said. “Minimally invasive methods of biopsy
makes life a lot easier for both women and radiologists trying to provide the
most compassionate care to their patients.”
Patients at high risk for breast cancer are encouraged to consult with their
physician to see if MRI-guided biopsy is available to them. For more information
about the system, contact Dr. Min or Dr. Bostwick in the Imaging
Department at 906-225-7790 or 1-800-562-9753, ext. 7790.
|
