Prototype developed for new breast cancer detection technology

The prototype of a machine that can detect tumours in women with dense breast tissue has been developed in Newcastle.

It is part of a research programme being delivered by technology group, Kromek, in partnership with Newcastle Hospitals, Newcastle University and University College London.

The project, which has received £2.5m from Innovate UK, will enter clinical trials once the current phase of prototype testing is complete.

Dr George Petrides, consultant radiologist in nuclear medicine at Newcastle Hospitals, said: “We are really excited by the advances in technology that are being achieved as part of the project.

“This technology has the potential to make a real difference in breast cancer screening and aspects of the project could have a wider impact in nuclear medicine scanning.”

Breasts are composed of fatty and fibroglandular tissue, but women with dense breasts have high amounts of fibroglandular tissue, which makes their mammogram results appear white.

As breast cancers also show up as white on mammogram, distinguishing between the two can be difficult.

Dr Nerys Forester, consultant breast radiologist and breast radiology project lead at Newcastle Hospitals, said: “Around 40% of women have dense breast tissue, but this only becomes evident when they attend their mammogram.

“This is not usually a cause for concern as screening with mammograms is effective, but women with dense breast tissue do have a slightly increased risk of getting breast cancer.

“Finding new technologies that can improve our ability to detect breast cancer in dense breasts is really important.”

Molecular breast imaging (MBI) uses a radioactive tracer that ‘lights up’ areas of cancer in the breast.

It has a high sensitivity for detecting cancer in dense breast tissue compared to a standard mammogram, however the dose of radiation is higher, and exposure time is longer.

MRIs are sometimes used to get a more detailed scan of dense breast tissue, but can take up to an hour per scan, making them impractical for routine screening.

Contrast-enhanced digital mammography (CEDM), used to highlight areas of concern in the breast, exposes patients to higher levels of radiation and is not widely available.

Kromek’s new MBI technology has potential to overcome these limitations by offering a reduced scan time of around 10 minutes, lower radiation exposure, and higher levels of precision through 3D imaging.

This could cut procedure time and provide a clearer picture of where a tumour is located without requiring further imaging.

Dr Arnab Basu, chief executive of Kromek, said: “Our new, ultra-fast MBI technology has the potential to save women’s lives by enabling earlier, faster, more accurate detection of breast cancers, especially in those with dense breast tissue.

“With cutting-edge cadmium zinc telluride detectors and advanced electronics, this technology delivers faster scans at a lower dose, transforming a standard 2D image into a precise 3D view.”

Professor Kris Thielemans, professor in medical imaging physics at University College London, said: “This project represents an important opportunity for advancing breast cancer detection and improving diagnostic options for women with dense breast tissue.”