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Nawaloka has taken a step towards detecting malignant breast cancer tumors by introducing Sri Lanka's first Ultrasound Elasticity Imaging machine, which differentiates benign and malignant growths.

Women can now avoid unnecessary and painful breast biopsies with the dynamic and highly selective technique known as Elasticity Imaging or Elastography, which measures the elastic properties of tissue by exploiting the basic characteristic of malignant (cancerous) tumours being harder in terms of mass when compared with benign (non cancerous) tumours. In a technique very similar to the regular ultrasound scan, ultrasound images are taken to measure tissue stiffness and hard growths are separated from soft growths, painlessly and unobtrusively. The results are 100% accurate and immediately available. 

Elastography is a major breakthrough in the long quest for simpler, safer and more efficient tools for breast cancer detection and is therefore the answer to the prayers of those dreading biopsies. Although a highly advanced procedure, it is fast and painless. Speaking to the Daily FT, a senior Nawaloka Hospitals official explained, "This technology has great importance, given the increased incidence of screening abnormalities picked up on breast ultrasound scans. We can now decrease the biopsy rate in benign growths. Also, most women dread having mammograms, 'though of course they realise the need for them. Breast biopsies are even more painful - even with minimally invasive techniques; the doctor must guide a needle to the spot to identify the lump before inserting small blades for obtaining samples of the tissue. The breast is then bandaged for about a week. This traumatic process is further exacerbated by a tense wait for results, with the patient agonising over the possibility of bad news. In actual fact, 80% of growths turn out to be benign or non cancerous."

To perform the scan, the radiologist moves the ultrasound handpiece, known as a transducer, over the affected area. The extremely sensitive system records two images, the first, a standard ultrasound picture, which is followed by an image known as an elastrogram, which is displayed on the adjoining monitor. Softer tissue, which moves when pressure is gently applied, shows white on the elastrogram, while harder, non yielding tissue indicates black in colour. As a result, a benign lump appears smaller on the elastrogram while a malignant lump appears larger. A simple comparison of the two images is needed to determine suspicious lumps.

Elastography is vital to determine whether or not specific patients need biopsies to further investigate tumours that look suspicious at initial detection. With Elastrography, thousands of women need no longer undergo unnecessary biopsies as a result of inaccurate diagnoses. 

Source : Nawaloka Hospitals Plc.

You can get more details about Ultrasound & its related topics from our Ultrasound User Group.