Clinical Trial Of Optical Mammography

Abstract Abstract #807 Objectives: Optical mammography (O-MMG), which utilizes near-infrared light for the detection of abnormal breast tissue, can be a potentially useful and non-invasive tool for the screening of breast cancer patients. Here we report on the results of our initial clinical trial using a time-resolved O-MMG system developed by Hamamatsu Photonics (Hamamatsu, Japan).
 Materials and Methods: In principle, the technique involves sequential irradiation of the breast tissue with a pulsed laser with a wavelength of 800 nm, which is then detected by the system at multiple sites after passing through the breast tissue. The irradiation takes place with the breast incorporated in a breast cup. The space between the cup and the breast tissue is filled with a liquid interface material, which is prepared beforehand on the basis of the optical properties of the breast tissue of each individual patient. The data are analyzed and tomographic images of the absorption coefficient of the breast are then reconstructed based on our tomographic reconstruction algorithm.
 The clinical trial was started in January 2007. A total of forty-two breast cancer patients participated in the trial and written informed consent was obtained from all of the patients.
 Results: Only optical properties without tomographic images were obtained for eight of the forty-two patients because of system malfunctions or due to patients' wishes. Higher absorption areas were noted in 22 out of the remaining 34 patients, which were identified as positive for abnormal breast tissue. No such positive tissue signals were identified in 12 patients.
 Conclusion: In this initial clinical trial, we believe that optical mammography as a non-invasive and painless investigative tool may have some advantages over conventional mammography in the initial screening of breast cancer patients. Currently, we launched multiwavelength measurements to improve the diagnostic performance.
 This work was partially supported by a Grant from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology, Japan, to promote leading projects on "Research and Development of Technology for Measuring Vital Function Merged with Optical Technology."
 
 
 
 Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(2 Suppl):Abstract nr 807.