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Smitha, a 44-year-old woman from Kannur district in Kerala, agreed to a clinical breast examination even though she had no symptoms. The examination using a portable ultrasound device detected unusual images, leading to a mammogram diagnosis of early-stage breast cancer. After minor surgery and radiotherapy, Smitha is now doing well. This early detection was crucial, as the cancer had not spread and did not require extensive treatment. Portable ultrasound devices can identify women who need further testing, preventing unnecessary procedures, additional costs, and anxiety.
The text describes a new breast imaging technology that uses special probes to examine breast tissue. These images can be analyzed by non-radiologist clinicians who have been trained to distinguish between suspected malignant and benign breast lesions. The clinicians only examined the part of the breast with a lump and classified it as either triage negative (no lesion, cystic lesion, or fibroadenoma) or triage positive (all other lesions). Breast cancer is a major health concern, particularly in India, where a large number of new cases are detected each year. While mammography is the preferred screening method, it is not feasible to implement in many low and middle-income countries due to a lack of effective screening programs. Clinical breast examination has been proposed as an alternative, but it has a high rate of false positives and low predictive value, leading to unnecessary diagnostic procedures.
The text states that out of 4,943 women screened, 242 had a positive result on clinical breast examination (CBE). Of those, 121 underwent the PUD imaging test, which detected all 33 cases of breast cancer identified so far. The study is ongoing, with plans to expand it to other centers in India and some African countries. Currently, CBE has a high false-positive rate, leading to unnecessary further testing and psychological impact on women. The PUD exam could help avoid these issues and may have potential for developing AI algorithms to interpret the results. The device is not yet in use in India, as only trials are being conducted at this time.
