Safer, More Accurate, Comfortable, and Less Expensive Breast Screening Technique Developed

In addition the test would be safer, and more comfortable than current multistage screening techniques involving X-ray mammography, a clinical examination, further X-rays, and ultrasound.

The screening system is being developed by a team consisting of researchers from the UK National Physical Laboratory (NPL; Teddington, Middlesex, UK), University Hospitals Bristol (UHB; Bristol, Avon, UK), North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT; Briston, Avon, UK), Precision Acoustics (Dorchester, Dorset, UK), and Designworks.

The screening system uses a new ultrasound detection technique, developed by the NPL that uses large-area pyro-electric sensors to create an ultrasound image. These new sensors produce much fewer image artifacts than existing detectors. The procedure involves passing ultrasound waves through the breast while the breast is in a warm water bath. The ultrasound system is rotated around the breast during the exam resulting in a 3-D image of breast tissue that can be used differentiate between normal and cancerous tissue types.

Precision Acoustics has built the first prototype pyro-electric sensors, and these are being tested and further optimized at the NPL. When complete, the team plans to develop the prototype breast screening system for clinical evaluation on a small number of patients.

Dr. Mike Shere, and Dr. Lis Kutt, Bristol Breast Care Centre Service, said, "We are evaluating this tool for imaging purposes with a view to looking at using it for screening should it prove to have the required sensitivity, specificity, patient acceptance and reproducibility of conventional mammography."

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