Molecular imaging finds cancers missed by mammograms

According to a new study in the August edition of the American Journal of Roentgenology, molecular breast imaging can locate cancers that mammograms miss. The research could improve breast cancer outcomes for women in New York and nationwide, particularly those who have dense breast tissue.

For the study, researchers conducted a retrospective examination of data from the supplemental cancer screening program at ProMedica Breast Care in Toledo, Ohio, between 2011 and 2014. They found that 1,696 women with dense breast tissue underwent MBI screenings after completing mammogram screenings. The MBI system detected 13 breast malignancies that mammograms missed. The size of the lesions detected ranged from .6 to 2.4 centimeters, with a mean of 1.1 centimeters. Furthermore, 85 percent of the malignancies had not spread to the lymph nodes, meaning the patients had better prognoses.

The study backs up a 2015 study by the Mayo Clinic that showed MBI testing increased the detection of invasive breast cancers from 1.9 to 8.8 per 1,000 screenings, which is an improvement of 363 percent. The CEO of Gamma Medica, the company that makes the MBI system, said the research shows that MBI provides a "real alternative" to unnecessary biopsies and the risk of misdiagnosis.

A doctor's failure to diagnose breast cancer can have severe consequences for patients. New York women who have suffered a worsened condition due to misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis may benefit from speaking to an attorney about their case. It may be possible to file a medical malpractice lawsuit against the responsible parties and seek compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering and other damages related to the spread of the disease.