BSGI May Be as Good as Breast MRI in Estimating Extent of Disease Burden

Background: Breast-specific gamma imaging (BSGI) is a nuclear medicine study that uses Tc-Sestamibi radiotracer as a marker for greater concentration of mitochondria and therefore greater cellular proliferation and cellular turnover. By using a high-resolution gamma camera, the breast can be imaged to define the extent of breast carcinoma in patients planning on undergoing surgery for biopsy-proven malignancy. Previous investigators have documented similar sensitivity of BSGI and breast MRI. Objective: To evaluate how BSGI and MRI changed surgical management in patients with biopsy-proven breast cancer at a single institution. Design/Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of patients diagnosed with breast cancer who underwent breast surgery for definitive treatment. Patients who had either a preoperative breast MRI or who underwent preoperative BSGI were included in the review. Medical records were reviewed, and it was noted whether those patients who underwent MRI or BSGI had more...