Status of scintimammography and its relationship to other detection methods for breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most important malignancy for women of the world's ind ustrialized nations. It is second only to lung cancer in cancer-related mor tality(1) Early detection is the best means of improving survival; the corn erstone of early diagnosis is mammography. Given the endemic nature of brea st cancer, screening mammography has secured a routine place in health main tenancefor women, although it is less than perfect To aid in the diagnosis of malignant breast disease, other imaging modalities have involved: ultras ound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and SMM. Scintimammography (SMM) is rapidly evolving with a variety of app lications for the management of breast disease. This technology has become a complementary modality to other conventional methods of breast imaging. T his review will focus on the science behind SMM and how it is currently use d in the management of breast lesions.