The accuracy of digital infrared imaging for breast cancer detection in women undergoing breast biopsy

Wishart, G.C.; Campisi, M.; Boswell, M.; Chapman, D.; Shackleton, V.; Iddles, S.; Hallett, A.; Britton, P.D.

doi:10.1016/j.ejso.2010.04.003

« Previous Next »European Journal of Surgical Oncology
Volume 36, Issue 6 , Pages 535-540, June 2010

The accuracy of digital infrared imaging for breast cancer detection in women undergoing breast biopsy

G.C. Wishart
- Cambridge Breast Unit, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 2QQ, UK
- NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 2QQ, UK
- Faculty of Health & Social Care, Anglia Ruskin University, East Road, Cambridge, UK
- Corresponding author. Consultant Breast & Endocrine Surgeon, Cambridge Breast Unit, P.O. Box 97, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 2QQ, UK. Tel.: +44 01223 216315; fax: +44 01223 257219.
M. Campisi
- Faculty of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Polytechnic Institute of New York University, New York, USA
M. Boswell
- Cambridge Breast Unit, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 2QQ, UK
D. Chapman
- Cambridge Breast Unit, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 2QQ, UK
V. Shackleton
- Cambridge Breast Unit, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 2QQ, UK
S. Iddles
- Cambridge Breast Unit, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 2QQ, UK
A. Hallett
- Cambridge Breast Unit, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 2QQ, UK
P.D. Britton
- Cambridge Breast Unit, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 2QQ, UK
- NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 2QQ, UK

Accepted 5 April 2010.

Abstract

Background

Mammography has a lower sensitivity for breast cancer detection in younger women and those with dense breasts. Recent improvements in digital infrared breast imaging suggest there may be a role for this technology and we have studied its performance in 100 women prior to breast needle core biopsy (CB).

Methods

All patients were imaged using a digital infrared breast (DIB) scan (Sentinel BreastScan™) prior to breast biopsy. Analysis of the infrared scans was performed, blinded to biopsy results, in four different ways: Sentinel screening report, Sentinel artificial intelligence (neural network), expert manual review and NoTouch BreastScan a novel artificial intelligence programme.

Results

Of 106 biopsies performed in 100 women, 65 were malignant and 41 were benign. Sensitivity of Sentinel screening (53%) and Sentinel neural network (48%) was low but analysis with NoTouch software (70%) was much closer to expert manual review (78%). Sensitivity (78%) and specificity (75%) using NoTouch BreastScan were higher in women under 50 and the combination of mammography and DIB, with NoTouch interpretation, in this age group resulted in a sensitivity of 89%.

Conclusion

DIB using NoTouch is an effective adjunctive test for breast cancer detection in women under 70 and appears to be particularly effective in women under 50 where maximal sensitivity (78%) and specificity (75%) were observed. The combined sensitivity of NoTouch BreastScan and mammography in women under 50 was encouraging at 89%, suggesting a potential way forward for a dual imaging approach in this younger age group.

Keywords: Breast cancer, Diagnostic imaging, Thermography, Digital infrared imaging