Double-phase Tc-99m-sestamibi scintimammography and trans-scan in diagnosing breast cancer

The goal of our study was to assess the value of both scintimammography wit h Tc-99m-sestamibi (SMM) and trans-scan (T-scan) in detecting breast cancer . Methods: A total of 121 women were evaluated by palpation, mammography, S MM and T-scan, SMM was performed in the prone, breast dependent position. I mmediate and delayed views (double-phase) were obtained. T-scan is a new br east imaging method that maps noninvasively the distribution of tissue elec trical impedance and capacitance. Results: SMM had 88.9% sensitivity, 88.4% specificity and 88.4% accuracy in detecting breast cancer. SMM had 100% se nsitivity in detecting breast tumors >1 cm and only 66% sensitivity in dete cting tumors <1 cm, T-scan had 72.2% sensitivity and 67% specificity in det ecting breast cancer. It detected one more breast cancer than SMM, at the e xpense of 27 additional false-positive results. Conclusion: Double-phase SM M was sensitive and specific in detecting breast cancer. This method may re duce the rate of negative breast biopsies in tumors >1 cm. T-scan was only moderately accurate in detecting breast cancer. Its addition to SMM did not improve significantly the rate of breast cancer detection. However, becaus e of its complete noninvasiveness, large-scale applicability and low cost, T-scan deserves further refining.