The role of nuclear medicine in breast cancer detection - Functional breast imaging

In the world's industrialized nations, breast cancer is the most common mal ignancy in women. It is second only to lung cancer and cancer-related morta lity Early detection is the best means of improving survival. Mammography r epresents the foundation of breast imaging and maintains the central role i n breast imaging techniques applied to breast cancer surveillance. In the p ast decade, functional breast imaging including MR imaging, digital mammogr aphy, and scintimammography using single photon emission tomography and pos itron emission tomography has improved the sensitivity and specificity of c onventional mammography for the detection of breast cancer. The higher spec ificity of scintimammography is feeding current enthusiasm for the study of its role in early detection, complementing mammography and indeterminate l esions and noninvasive axillary staging. A comprehensive review of the use of the radionuclide techniques applied to breast cancer surveillance is des cribed in this article.