PHILADELPHIA, (July 5, 2017) – Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, PA, today announced the addition of the Discovery™ NM750b Molecular Breast Imaging (MBI) system as a complementary diagnostic tool to detect breast cancer after a questionable mammogram. MBI is now available to help physicians in the Philadelphia area detect early stage cancers even in dense breast tissue. The Discovery™ NM750b is exclusively distributed in North America by Dilon Technologies Inc., a world leader in molecular imaging, and inventor of the breast dedicated molecular imaging cameras.
Fox Chase recognizes that breast cancer is highly curable when it is treated in its early stages. To provide the most advanced diagnostic tools for patients, Fox Chase has acquired the Discovery™ NM750b MBI system. “We find MBI with the Discovery™ NM750b system to be a proven and effective tool in the early detection of breast cancer when mammography is inconclusive,” said Kathryn Evers, MD, FACR, director of mammography at Fox Chase. “Even though mammography may remain a primary screening method, when we encounter a challenging breast case, we can count on MBI with the Discovery™ NM750b to help deliver accurate, fast results at nearly one-third the cost of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).”
Mammograms are sometimes difficult to interpret due to dense breast tissue and scarring from a previous surgery, or when implants are present. In these cases additional testing is often necessary, including ultrasound, MRI or MBI. Mammography is a highly sensitive screening tool, which means it is very effective in detecting breast abnormalities. However, higher breast density lowers sensitivity and, in some cases, mammography provides low specificity, which is the ability to determine the nature of a suspicious area, as indicated by the high rate of abnormalities that appear to be cancer, but turn out to be normal.
With MBI, the patient receives a pharmaceutical tracing agent that is absorbed by all the cells in the body. Due to their increased rate of metabolic activity, cancerous cells in the breast absorb a greater amount of the tracing agent than normal, healthy cells and generally appear as “dark spots” on the MBI image. The Discovery™ NM 750b MBI system uses revolutionary and leading-edge, solid-state Cadmium Zinc Telluride (CZT) detectors to improve diagnostic accuracy in all types of patients.
MBI with the Discovery™ NM 750b takes about 30-45 minutes to perform. Because there is no compression of the breast and patients are seated throughout the entire procedure, it is much more comfortable than a mammogram or MRI. In addition, insurance companies generally cover MBI with the Discovery™ NM 750b.
“We are committed to providing our patients with the most advanced technology in breast health and with the addition of the Discovery™ NM 750b MBI system, we have clearly taken a substantial leap forward,” said Evers. “With the Discovery™ NM 750b, our patients can receive same-day evaluation and results, contributing to less anxiety; and for high-risk patients it may reduce the need for a six-month follow-up. Frequently MRI is used as a follow-up to a questionable mammogram. With MBI, we can see what matters at nearly one-third the cost of a MRI procedure. Ultimately, we believe MBI will translate into earlier detection of breast cancer.” MBI with the Discovery™ NM 750b also gives physicians a higher degree of clinical confidence in negative test results.
Fox Chase’s department of oncology and radiology offers expert physicians and staff, state-of-the-art facilities, and advanced diagnostic and treatment techniques for breast cancer patients in the Philadelphia area.
Patients who wish to learn more about MBI with the Discovery™ NM 750b now being performed at Fox Chase, can call the center toll-free at 888-369-2427.
About Dilon Technologies®
Dilon Technologies Inc. is bringing innovative new medical imaging products to market. DILON is the exclusive distributor of GE’s Discovery NM750b Molecular Breast Imaging system in North America. Dilon’s cornerstone MBI products are high-resolution, compact gamma cameras, optimized to perform the Molecular Breast Imaging procedure which images the metabolic activity of breast lesions through radiotracer uptake. Many leading medical centers around the country are now offering MBI to their patients, including: MD Anderson, George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, D.C, Cornell University Medical Center, New York For more information on Dilon Technologies please visit www.dilon.com.