Now Offering Brest Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI)  

Leading the way in the Fight Against Breast Cancer

The Iowa Clinic Women’s Center is the first in the state to offer Breast Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI). BSGI with the Dilon 6800 Gamma Camera is a complementary procedure used as a “next-step” to help detect breast cancer when more information is needed after a questionable mammogram. BSGI is able to detect early stage cancers, identify suspicious and difficult-to-read breast abnormalities and help doctors distinguish benign from malignant tumors.

By operating on a cellular or molecular level, BSGI is not affected by tissue density and can help detect cancers at very early stages and allow for optimal intervention and treatment. Its ability to accurately detect breast cancer has the potential to significantly reduce the number of unnecessary, invasive biopsies. It also allows for accurate-pre surgical planning to help preserve healthy breast tissue.  “Mammography is still the first-line screening tool for breast cancer, but 
there are those challenging cases where it raises as many questions as it  provides answers,” says Dr. Rodion Hererra, a radiologist at The Iowa Clinic Women’s Center. “Mammography primarily measures differences in tissue density, but because dense tissue and cancers can have a similar appearance on mammography, it may be difficult to identify cancers and lead to unnecessary biopsies.”

Patients who undergo BSGI are first injected in the arm with a small amount of radiotracer agent. The radiotracer is absorbed by all cells in their body, and because cancerous cells have a higher rate of metabolic activity, they absorb a greater amount of the tracer and appear as “hot spots” to the Dilon 6800. BSGI is highly sensitive in its ability to detect breast abnormalities, and most importantly is very specific in its ability to help doctors differentiate between benign and malignant tissue.

BSGI with the Dilon 6800 Gamma Camera can also reliably detect very small cancers, down to 3 mm, that can sometimes be missed by a mammogram The ease of use and speed of results are critical to those seeking peace of mind during potentially challenging examinations.

Meet our team of Radiologists.