Texas Breast Specialists, a part of Texas Oncology, has expanded its breast cancer treatment services in Dallas, McKinney, Bedford, Carrollton, and Plano, Texas to include the mobile Naviscan PEM (Positron Emission Mammography) scanner.
PEM scanners are high-resolution breast PET systems that show the location as well as the metabolic phase of a lesion and the metabolic view allows physicians to enhance their cancer care decision by providing an unprecedented ability to distinguish between benign and malignant lesions.
The NIH-sponsored multi-site study of hundreds of women with newly diagnosed breast cancer shows that PEM demonstrated comparably high sensitivity but a 6% improvement in specificity, ability to differentiate between malignant and benign lesions, suggesting that PEM may reduce unnecessary biopsies.
Reportedly, the results are particularly significant for women who cannot tolerate an MRI exam and require an alternate imaging tool.
Naviscan chairman and CEO Paul Mirabella said that Naviscan is excited to be developing a relationship with US Oncology and its affiliated practices.
"US Oncology and its Texas Oncology partners have led the market in innovative approaches to the management and treatment of breast cancer," Mirabella said.
"Because of the characteristics of leadership in tomographic Molecular Breast Imaging technology, physicians in the network will be able to make the surgical decisions and the Medical Oncologists will be able to see the impact of chemotherapy treatment after one application of therapy and will provide the cost effective course of treatment for patients, providers and payors."