Skip to main content

Currently Skimming:

Breast Cancer Detection Technologies in Development
Pages 9-14

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.


From page 9...
... Advances in breast cancer detection technology include improvements to current techniques, new ways to image the breast, and new detection strategies aimed at finding distinctive "molecular signatures" of a pre-malignant or malignant breast tumor. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
From page 10...
... However, one important limitation of digital mammograms is that the images are not as finely detailed as film mammograms. Although digital mammography has been promoted as a major technical improvement over conventional mammography, preliminary studies have not yet confirmed a significant improvement in the accurate detection of breast cancers.
From page 11...
... Other studies suggest that ultrasound may also be able to characterize non-palpable solid lesions as benign or malignant. Additional research suggests that ultrasound combined with x-ray mammography might improve the accuracy of breast cancer screening and also enable the detection of early-stage tumors in women with dense breasts.
From page 12...
... Studies suggest that although MRI is highly sensitive at detecting tissue abnormalities that indicate cancer, it is sometimes unable to distinguish malignancies from other harmless tissue abnormalities in the breast. Also, like ultrasound, it cannot detect microcalcifications.
From page 13...
... , the committee noted that ideal breast cancer detection may ultimately require the use of multiple imaging techniques. IN summary, after reviewing all the evidence to date, the committee concluded that despite its limitations, x-ray mammography is currently the only imaging technology that has been adequately studied and is suitable for breast cancer screening in the general population.
From page 14...
... There are many ways that gene or protein screens could be used for breast cancer detection. Researchers are trying to develop specialized imaging systems that can use "smart" contrast agents to reveal telltale genes that may be activated in cancerous breast tissue, or other biochemical markers of early breast cancer.


This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More information on Chapter Skim is available.