Transillumination Light Scanning for the Diagnosis of Breast Cancer

摘要

The Office of Health Technology Assessment (OHTA) emphasizes three basic principles in its assessment activities: (1) broad and open participation both within and outside of the Federal government, (2) reliance on the expertise and research abilities of outside organizations and individuals, and (3) broad dissemination of assessment reports. This assessment focuses on transillumination light scanning for the diagnosis of breast cancer. The safety of transillumination light scanning is not questioned. What is at question is its efficacy. A growing number of users have had positive experiences with the technique and report data which show their diagnostic accuracy approaching or equal to mammography. Light scans have detected nonpalpable tumors of size 1 cm or less. Others present data indicating that it has picked up confirmed masses not seen by mammography. The professional organizations including the NCI have commented that the technique has not been evaluated sufficiently. Experience with light scanning is accumulating rapidly in terms of the number of groups using it and familiarity of clinicians in interpreting the images. A more definitive evaluation of this procedure should be possible within the next 18 months to 3 years.