New method could help reduce breast biopsies.

• Position: Imaging - Brief Article

One day, doctors may be able to diagnose breast cancer with better accuracy using an imaging method being developed at Ohio State University, Columbus. The procedure, which involves computerized analysis of magnetic resonance images (MRIs) of breasts, could greatly reduce the number of women who have to undergo painful biopsies. With current screening techniques, seven out of every 10 women suspected of having breast cancer and sent for biopsies turn out to have no malignancies.

To lower that high ratio of false positives, a team of researchers led by Bradley Clymer, associate professor of electrical engineering, is developing a diagnostic step between X-ray mammography--the technique most commonly used for screening--and biopsy. In this step, doctors would analyze MRIs of breasts to detect blurred regions which might correspond to micro-calcifications that are often indicators of cancer.

In a recent study, their method--which is still several years away from clinical use--was nearly 100% accurate in detecting blurred regions in breast MRIs. The method is based on the knowledge that calcified regions in the breast show up as blurred areas in MRIs--a result of the magnetic properties of calcifications being slightly different from those of normal soft tissue. Some of these calcifications, which occur when breast tissue hardens due to calcium accumulation, are a sign of...