Molecular Breast Imaging: A New Technique Using Technetium Tc 99m Scintimammography to Detect Small Tumors of the Breast

This prototype gamma camera system for MBI reliably detects malignant breast lesions smaller than 2 cm. Furthermore, we obtained the highest sensitivity (86%) yet reported for the detection of lesions smaller than 1 cm. These results suggest an important role for MBI, particularly for women in whom the sensitivity of mammography is reduced by the density of the breast parenchyma.