Is ultrasound used for diagnosing breast cancer?
Sometimes. Ultrasound is a painless way to detect abnormalities
in the breast by projecting high frequency sound
waves into the breast. The pattern of echoes from these
sound waves is converted by computer into a visual image
of the interior of the breast. It is most useful in telling the
difference between solid masses and cysts, especially in
younger women whose breasts are very dense. It does not,
however, show microcalcifications or identify very small
cancers, so it is not as good as mammography for screening.
Ultrasound is being used in some medical centers to follow
high risk patients who have had lumpectomy and radiation
therapy treatments.
Is CT scanning used in detecting breast cancer?
A CT scan, which takes a series of pictures shot from different
angles, is synthesized by a computer to produce a
detailed picture of a section of tissue. So far, CT scans have
been useful in detecting cancer in small dense breasts which
are difficult to examine by
mammography. However because
CT scans require a relatively high x-ray exposure, the
injections of a chemical into the body and the use of complicated
and expensive equipment, it is not suitable for
routine screening and diagnostic studies.
Is MRI a screening method for breast cancer?
MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, uses a combination
ofmagnetic fields and radiowaves to detect abnormal tissue.
Preliminary studies indicate that MRI can successfully image
breast cancers at least large, palpable ones. MRI can
not at this time distinguish between
breast cancer and benign
tumors.
Are monoclonal antibodies being used in diagnosing breast
cancer?
Monoclonal antibodies are presently being tested for use
in diagnosing breast cancer. No trials of monoclonal antibodies
for breast cancer treatment are under way at present.
Is thermography used in diagnosing breast cancer?
Sometimes. Thermography, also referred to as contact thermography
and graphic stress telethermometry, is a technique
for measuring heat given off by various parts of the
breast. A cancer gives off more heat than normal tissue
because of its fast metabolic rate and abnormally rich blood
supply. Thermography is safe because it does not use any
radiation; it simply measures heat radiated by the breast.
How is thermography done?
You take off your clothes and sit in a cool room for about
10 minutes to allow your skin temperature to cool. For contact
thermography, the breasts are held against or wrapped
with material containing liquid crystals which change color
with changes in temperature. For telethermometry, the heat
is measured by an infrared sensor. In all cases, the heat
emissions are then recorded by a camera.
Is thermography as good as mammography?
Thermography is best at showing large cancers in women
with symptoms. It is not as accurate as mammography, especially
in finding very small cancers deep within the breast.
It may prove helpful in predicting cancer development.
Work to improve the technique as well as trials to determine
its effectiveness are under way. At present, it should not be
used alone as a diagnostic tool.
Thermography VS Mammogram
What is transillumination?
Transillumination, or diaphanography, is used by some doctors
to further their knowledge of the nature of a lump. With
the help of a powerful light beam, they interpret the contours
of the lump. It is used mainly in addition to other
clinical devices available to give the doctor further insight
into the kind of lump being examined and can help distinguish a cyst from a solid tumor. Quite simply, in a darkened
room, the doctor beams a powerful light through the breast
area being examined. Different types oftissues transmit and
scatter light in different ways, and these differences can be
more clearly seen with an infrared sensitive television camera
and display. Current studies show that transillumination
does not identify the very small cancers routinely detected
by mammography. The technique remains experimental.
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