Tina Chaves BS, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Elizabeth Ann Rafferty MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Daniel Benjamin Kopans MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

David Boas PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Stefan Carp PhD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Optical imaging is a rapidly evolving imaging modality with potential for clinical impact on detecting and diagnosing breast cancer. This is based on quantifying blood volume and oxygenation as well as lipid and water content in tissue. Combining this functional imaging method with the superior structural information of mammography offers significant advantage in fusing anatomic and physiologic data. However, the effect of mammographic compression on blood volume and oxygenation is unclear. We are performing a pilot study on healthy subjects to characterize the effect of mammographic compression on the functional parameters measured by optical imaging.

To date, optical measurements have been taken on 7 women in this ongoing pilot study. All women were compressed with the same measured force at each of three compression levels: no compression, half compression, and full compression. Optical measurements were made in reflectance mode with an 8 wavelength frequency domain optical spectroscopy system (ISS, Inc) which enables quantitative characterization of the optical absorption and scattering properties of the breast tissue. The oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin concentration levels were determined from the wavelength dependence of the optical absorption coefficient.

Our results show proportionate reductions in blood volume and oxygenation with increasing compression. Greatest decrease in blood volume occurs during the initial half compression followed by some additional decrease during the full compression. Greatest decrease in oxygenation occurs during the full compression, presumably a result of venous occlusion ceasing blood flow. Variation in the responses may correlate with breast density and menstrual cycle.

Mammographic compression reduces breast blood volume and oxygenation significantly although not completely. The amount and rate of reduction varies with breast density and menstrual cycle. It is likely that the amount and rate of reduction will differ in benign and malignant lesions possibly leading to a new bio-marker for breast cancer. This initial pilot study is presented as a work in progress.

Chaves, T, Rafferty, E, Kopans, D, Boas, D, Carp, S, Effects of Mammographic Compression on Breast Blood Volume and Oxygenation as Measured by Optical Imaging.  Radiological Society of North America 2005 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 27 - December 2, 2005 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2005/4414005.html