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Thursday, October 25, 2012

Ultrasound, less X-Ray

Breast cancer: 

Ultrasound better for some, and do not overlook Thermography

United Press International, 10-23-12

For women ages 30-39 with symptoms of possible breast cancer, ultrasound is a superior diagnostic tool to mammography, U.S. researchers say.

Dr. Constance Lehman, director of radiology at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and professor and vice chair of radiology at the University of Washington, said the use of ultrasound in women ages 30-39 who have overt breast symptoms -- palpable lumps, localized pain and tissue thickening -- is common practice in Europe, where guidelines typically recommend ultrasound as the primary diagnostic imaging tool.

The risk for malignancy among women in this age group is small, but real, at about 1.9 percent, Lehman said.
The study, published in the American Journal of Roentgenology, found in the 1,208 cases examined, sensitivity for ultrasound was 95.7 percent compared to 60.9 percent for mammography -- ultrasound exams found 22 cancers versus 14 by mammography.

The researchers identified all women 30-39, who presented for diagnostic breast imaging evaluation at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance from January 2002 to August 2006.

"Imaging plays an important role in evaluating women with palpable breast lumps," Lehman said. "Most lumps are not cancer. Ultrasound and mammography help us separate women who need a biopsy from those who can safely be followed or reassured that the lump is benign. In women under age 40, ultrasound is better at evaluating breast lumps compared to mammography. Mammography is still our best tool for screening women 40 and older, but targeted ultrasound is our tool of choice in evaluating symptomatic women under 40."

Copyright United Press International 2012

Selections from Natural Health News

Oct 07, 2009
EDINA, Minn., Oct. 7 (UPI) -- Dr. John Wild, a leading developer of the use of ultrasound in cancer detection, died recently in Minnesota at the age of 95, his daughter said. Wild applied ultrasound technology that was being ...
May 13, 2008
I have been an advocate of ultrasound for breast screening for more than a decade. I have taught thousands of women to demand ultrasound - and better yet - THERMOGRAPHY - in the classes, workshops and writings that I ...
May 21, 2010
The web site mentioned in this article promotes MRI and ultrasound, also less cancer promoting than mammogram and doing a better diagnostic job as well. Dense breast increases cancer risk. Published: May 21, 2010 at ...
Apr 04, 2007
Ultrasound is effective too. Read more here and here. Computers hinder mammogram readings, report finds. By Gene Emery, Reuters 4 April 07. Computer-aided mammogram designed to help doctors spot cancer do not ...

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