BACKGROUND:  The American Cancer Society states that breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women. Currently, mammography and physical breast examination are the two most effective methods for screening potential breast cancer patients. However, there is limited accuracy of detecting small, non-palpable lesions with these methods. Now, PET is being used increasingly in the clinic, especially for oncology applications. There is the potential of using PET imaging to better diagnose potential breast cancer patients. However, current PET scanners are large, compromising performance, and very expensive. There is a need for a PET device that can image specific regions of the body with improved resolution and sensitivity at a lower cost.n limited in practice to 8-10 mm, restricting sensitive detection to large tumors.

INNOVATION:  Researchers at UCLA have developed a high resolution compact PET camera for imaging of a variety of body parts, especially the breasts. Any available positron emitter-labeled compound can be used, but in particular the glucose analog fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). This PET device can provide 3-D metabolic images of the breast with a resolution of up to 2.5 mm. These images can also be achieved using less radiation and a shorter imaging time relative to current clinical PET imaging protocols. This compact device can also potentially be used to image other regions of the body, such as limb, heart, lymph node, hand and foot, head and neck.

POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS: 

• Clinical tool high quality PET cancer imaging in specific regions of the body, primarily for breast cancer applications

ADVANTAGES: 

This compact system overcomes the limitations of conventional PET systems, offering a cost effective alternative with better imaging than whole-body PET, SPECT, or planar gamma-camera imaging. Advantages include:

• Unlike mammography, compression of breasts is not needed
• Higher spatial resolution and sensitivity
• Better count rate performance
• Shorter imaging time
• Less radiation
• More compact and flexible
• Lower cost
• Potential for higher patient throughput
• Wider range of clinical applications

DEVELOPMENT-TO-DATE:  The detector technology has been developed and tested, with a prototype camera already completed. The PET camera has been tested in a clinical study to screen for potential breast cancer patients.

Reference: UCLA Case No. 1999-397

US Patent: 6,552,348