Lawson first in North America to study new biopsy method for breast cancer patients
![laswon - mammography - march 2023 (Source: Lawson Health Research Institute)](/content/dam/ctvnews/en/images/2023/3/30/laswon---mammography---march-2023-1-6335848-1680193267066.jpg)
Researchers at the Lawson Health Research Institute have piloted a new technique that will make breast cancer biopsies easier for patients, a new study found.
Radiologists at Lawson found a new form of mammography software that combines contrast enhanced mammography (CEM) with mammography guided biopsy technology at St. Joseph’s Health Care.
According to Lawson Associate Scientist and Breast Radiologist at St. Joseph’s, Dr. Anat Kornecki, this will make the procedure more accurate and easier for patients and technicians.
Lawson is the first place in North America to offer this procedure to patients through the St. Josephs Brest Care Program.
Two other centres in Europe were the first to use this technique which has been cleared by Health Canada and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Researchers say CEM is a new form of mammography that uses contrast iodine which helps radiologists see potential cancerous lesions. If a lesion is found then a biopsy can be performed.
“If a lesion is detected only by CEM we usually offer an MRI guided biopsy, but we first need to find the same lesion on an MRI,” said Kornecki.
Before this new method, technicians were only able to detect potential lesions on contrast enhanced mammography and were biopsied under MRI, which often takes longer since MRI availability is limited.
“The problem is that it is sometimes hard to find the same lesion and the MRI itself can be uncomfortable for the patient. Also, some lesions that are close to implants or chest walls cannot be reached with MRI guided biopsy,” Kornecki added.
In a study including 50 patients, researchers found 51 potentially cancerous breast lesions, leading to 46 biopsies.
The results showed 11 had breast cancer, 10 were considered high-risk lesions, and the remaining lesions were benign.
“These are very similar results that were reported through MRI-guided biopsies, which means that this new method can replace the MRI,” Kornecki explained.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6976926.1721883767!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
AS IT HAPPENED Wildfire reaches Jasper Wednesday night, causes 'significant loss'
One of two wildfires threatening Jasper National Park reached the townsite Wednesday night and caused 'significant loss.'
Alberta calls in army to assist with wildfire situation
Alberta has called in the Canadian Armed Forces to help assist with the worsening wildfire situation in the province.
Biden explains why he ended re-election bid in Oval Office address
U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday delivered a solemn call to voters to defend the country's democracy as he laid out in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.
Barrie-Innisfil MPP 'blacked-out' and crashed car into window of child care centre
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.
Norad intercepts Russian and Chinese bombers operating together near Alaska in apparent first
The North American Aerospace Defence Command (Norad) intercepted two Russian and two Chinese bombers flying near Alaska Wednesday in what appears to be the first time the two countries have been intercepted while operating together.
2 Canadians being 'sent home immediately,' removed from Olympic team after drone incident
An analyst and an assistant coach with Canada Soccer are being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and 'sent home immediately,' according to the Canadian Olympic Committee.
An unwelcome attendee has joined the Paris Olympic Games: COVID-19
After a handful of Australian water polo players tested positive for COVID-19 this week, questions have emerged around how the spread of the disease will be mitigated at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Vacations, meals, booze: Contractor used $100K of charity's money for personal expenses, B.C. court finds
A B.C. man who was hired to help a non-profit build a food hub but instead spent the money on personal expenses – including travel, restaurants, booze and cannabis – has been ordered to pay more than $120,000 in damages.
Male, female killed, 2 others injured in 'gun battle' outside Toronto plaza: police
Two people are dead and two others suffered serious injuries following a shooting that police have described as a 'gun battle' outside a plaza in Scarborough, Ont. early Wednesday morning.