The prototype of a new machine that can detect tumours in women with dense breast tissue has been developed in Newcastle.
The prototype is part of a research programme being delivered by technology group, Kromek, in partnership with Newcastle Hospitals, Newcastle University and University College London (UCL).
All breasts are composed of 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
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. 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.
Improved technology could reduce scan time
In contrast, the new, improved MBI technology has potential to overcome these limitations by offering a reduced scan time of around ten 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 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.”
Advances in technology
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 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 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.
“Currently in prototype trials at Newcastle Hospitals, the system has the potential to make breast cancer screening both more effective and accessible for those most at risk.”
Moving closer to early detection
Professor Kris Thielemans, professor in medical imaging physics at University College London, added: “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.
The Northern Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering team at Newcastle Hospitals is leading on device regulatory matters and stakeholder engagement.
Medical physics’ Dr Alison Bray, who is the project lead for Newcastle Hospitals, says:
“Our group is uniquely placed within the NHS to work with innovators to embed stakeholder engagement and regulatory processes from an early stage of development.
“This approach increases the chance of devices meeting user and legal requirements, and ultimately reaching the market to benefit patients.
Patient and stakeholder involvement lead Helen Elliott has interviewed over 50 people about the technology locally and nationally, including patients, radiologists, surgeons, scientists, and policy-makers. Early results on patient perspectives were published recently in Nature’s British Journal of Cancer.
The National Institute for Health and Care Research HealthTech Research Centre in Diagnostic and Technology Evaluation (hosted by Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle University) is providing expertise in diagnostics evaluation, led by clinical scientist, Tim Hicks.
