New Imaging Tool Reduces Biopsies

Qing Zhu, a Professor of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis, and her team have developed a new hand-held imaging technology that combines ultrasound with Diffuse optical tomography (DOT). This innovation aims to improve the accuracy of breast cancer diagnoses and reduce the number of unnecessary breast biopsies, 80% of which are benign in the United States. The technology measures blood hemoglobin concentration and oxygen levels, key indicators of tumor activity. A study involving 226 patients showed that reviewing DOT measurements decreased biopsies of benign lumps by approximately 25%, with a false-negative rate of 1.8%. The United States — National Cancer Institute provides funding for this work, which is expected to have a meaningful effect on patient care and the broader healthcare system.