Local study shows fewer biopsies needed

BOARDMAN — Radiologists at Southwoods X-ray and Open RMI here have found in preliminary studies that a new ultrasound technique called elasticity imaging could eliminate the need for many breast cancer biopsies.

Developed by Siemens Ultrasound in California, elasticity imaging — basically a computer software program that runs on a standard ultrasound machine — can distinguish between cancerous and noncancerous breast lesions, said Dr. Richard G. Barr of Campbell, lead researcher.

The ability to tell the difference between malignant and benign lesions is important in limiting the number of breast biopsies because, according to the American Cancer Society, 80 percent of breast lesions biopsied are found to be benign.

“Siemens came to us to move elasticity imaging into being useful clinically, and I believe we have done that,” Barr said. “If our results can be reproduced in a large, multicenter trial, this technique could significantly reduce the number of breast biopsies required.”

Barr presented the findings of the elasticity imaging research today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America in Chicago.

Barr is a professor of radiology at Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine in Rootstown and a partner in Radiology Consultants, the group that owns Southwoods X-ray and Open RMI at 250 DeBartolo Place.