NCH Healthcare Group is proud to be the very FIRST IN NAPLES to offer the new nuclear diagnostic test called BSGI – Breast Specific Gamma Imaging.
Breast Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI) is a molecular breast imaging technique that reveals cancerous lesions, even in women with difficult-to-diagnose breasts. This innovative technology goes beyond mammography, MRI and ultrasound, and has emerged as an affordable, next step imaging technique for diagnosing breast cancer. BSGI and the Dilon 6800 Gamma Camera help you and your doctor see what matters.
About Breast Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI)
Breast Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI) with the Dilon 6800 Gamma Camera is a complementary procedure used as a "next-step" to help detect breast cancer when more information is needed after a questionable mammogram. BSGI is able to detect early stage cancers, identify suspicious and difficult-to-read breast abnormalities and help doctors distinguish benign from malignant tumors.
Mammography is still considered the gold standard in breast cancer detection, but there are times when diagnostic challenges occur due to the complexity of breast tissue. A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast used to image tissue structure and density. The challenge arises not only because breast tissue types have varying degrees of density, but also because cancers are also dense in nature and can appear the same as normal tissue on a mammogram. Because BSGI works more on a functional or cellular level, it provides vital tumor information from another important imaging perspective; helping your doctor more accurately determine if an area of concern is cancerous or not.
Patients who undergo BSGI are first injected in the arm with a small amount of radiotracer agent. The radiotracer is absorbed by all cells in their body, and because cancerous cells have a higher rate of metabolic activity, they absorb a greater amount of the tracer and appear as "dark spots" to the Dilon 6800. BSGI is highly sensitive in its ability to detect breast abnormalities, and most importantly is very specific in its ability to help doctors differentiate between benign and malignant tissue.
BSGI with the Dilon 6800 Gamma Camera can also reliably detect very small cancers, as small as 1 mm in clinical testing that can sometimes be missed by a mammogram. Same-day evaluation and imaging at the point-of-care are also possible with BSGI. The ease of use and speed of results are critical to those seeking peace of mind during potentially challenging examinations. Lastly, because of the unique design of the Dilon 6800 and its ability to completely rotate around the breast with only minor compression, the examination is comfortable.
Who benefits from BSGI with the Dilon 6800 Gamma Camera?
You may be one of the many patients who are likely to benefit from using BSGI. This is especially true if you have:
- Dense breast tissue
- Indeterminate areas found on a mammogram
- Lumps that can be felt but not seen with mammography or ultrasound
- Implants and breast augmentation
- Scarring from previous surgeries
- Increased risk, due to personal or family history of breast cancer
For a useful list of Frequently Asked Questions and to learn more about Breast Specific Gamma Imaging with the Dilon 6800 Gamma Camera visit www.dilon.com