- Up to 40% of women have dense breast tissue – these women are thought to be statistically more prone to the disease.
- Some women with dense breasts have cancers that are difficult to detect on mammograms. In some case, this means cancer is detected at a later stage.
- Current screening with mammography applies to all women. Additional diagnostics such as MRIs can take up to an hour to scan making it difficult to introduce them into routine screening.
- The new, ‘ultra-fast’ molecular breast imaging technology, could be offered in addition to mammography in women with breast dense tissue, which could increase cancer detection rate.
The prototype of a new machine that can detect tumours in women with dense breast tissue has been developed in Newcastle.
The research programme is being delivered by international technology group, Kromek, in partnership with Newcastle Hospitals, Newcastle University and UCL.
All breasts are composed of adipose (fatty) and fibroglandular tissue. Women with dense breasts (up to 40%) 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.
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.
For detecting breast cancer in women with dense breast tissue, current technologies have limitations that the new MBI technology could effectively address.
MRIs are sometimes used to get a more detailed scan of dense breast tissue. While they are a useful diagnostic tool, MRIs can take up to an hour per scan, making it 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.
In contrast, the new, improved ‘ultra-fast’ MBI technology has potential to overcome these limitations by offering a reduced scan time of around ten minutes, far lower radiation exposure, and higher levels of precision through 3D imaging. This advancement would not only cut procedure time significantly but also provide clear lesion localisation without requiring further imaging. Together, these improvements make MBI an exciting candidate for more efficient, safer, and accessible solution for supplemental screening in women with dense breast tissue.
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.
“We are delighted with the progress we have made with Kromek, Newcastle University and UCL since the project began in 2022. Our hope is that this technology could ultimately save more lives lost to breast cancer in the future.”
Dr George Petrides, consultant radiologist in Nuclear Medicine at Newcastle Hospitals, added:
“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 in fact have a wider impact in nuclear medicine scanning.”
Dr Arnab Basu, chief executive of Kromek, said: “Our new, ultra-fast molecular breast imaging technology has the potential to save women’s lives by enabling earlier, faster, more accurate detection of aggressive breast cancers, especially in those with dense breast tissue where conventional mammography often fails.
“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. Currently in prototype trials at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals, the system is poised to make breast cancer screening both more effective and accessible for those most at risk.”
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.
“By developing this imaging technology, we are moving closer to making early detection accessible and more effective for a broader range of patients. Our collaboration has made excellent progress, and we are hopeful that this technology will play a key role in supporting better health outcomes.”
“Furthermore, I believe that this novel technology has considerable potential for applications beyond breast imaging.”
The project, which has received £2.5m from Innovate UK, will enter clinical trials once the current phase of prototype testing is complete.
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