Development of a 3-D multi-planar biopsy system using new ultrasound tomographic

PROJECT SUMMARY Biopsy capability is an absolute requirement for imaging facilities planning to provide breast cancer screening services. The limitations of mammography have ushered in several other imaging technologies, such as magnetic resonance (MR), positron emission mammography, and breast specific gamma, or molecular breast imaging. However, these are all relatively expensive modalities and require contrast injection, limiting their potential use for screening of the general population. We therefore developed a more quantitative and less expensive approach for evaluation of breast masses using the principles of ultrasound tomography (UST). Our new commercial UST scanner, named SoftVue (Delphinus Medical Technologies), now has sufficient resolution, contrast and speed to address the burden of screening of the general population, but a biopsy solution using 3-D UST data is still needed. Our goal is the development of a convenient, out-of-water biopsy solution for UST detected masses, which then also serv