Microwave breast imaging (MBI), a non-invasive, non-ionizing emerging technology in breast imaging, has shown promise in a new study published on August 4, 2021, in Academic Radiology. The study of the Wavelia System was a “first-in-human” study, according to the study’s authors.

Brian M. Moloney, Ph.D., FFRRCSI, and his team at Galway University Hospital in Ireland studied patients in three groups: those with biopsy-proven breast cancers, unaspirated cysts, and biopsy-proven benign breast lesions. “The MBI system detected and localised 12 of 13 benign breast lesions, and 9 out of the 11 breast cancers. This included 1 case of a radiographically occult invasive lobular cancer. No device related adverse events were recorded,” reported the authors. They also noted that 92% of the women imaged would recommend MBI imaging to other women.

The study was the first clinical investigation of a prototype low-power electromagnetic wave MBI, the Vavelia System by French manufacturer MVG Industries.

“The MBI system detected and localized the majority of breast lesions. This modality may have the potential to offer a non-invasive, non-ionizing and painless adjunct to breast cancer diagnosis,” concluded Moloney and his team. They recommended further, larger studies to validate the findings of their study.

Sources:

Brian M. Moloney, Peter F. McAnena, Sami M. Abd Elwahab, Angie Fasoula, Luc Duchesne, Julio D. Gil Cano, Catherine Glynn, AnnaMarie O’Connell, Rachel Ennis, Aoife J. Lowery, Michael J. Kerin, Microwave Imaging in Breast Cancer – Results from the First-In-Human Clinical Investigation of the Wavelia System,
Academic Radiology, 2021,ISSN 1076-6332, Available August 4, 2021 at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acra.2021.06.012. Accessed August 16, 2021, at Science Direct.

“Microwave breast imaging shows promise.” AuntMinnie.com Available August 4, 2021, at https://www.auntminnie.com/index.aspx?Sec=sup&Sub=wom&Pag=dis&ItemId=133142. Accessed August 16, 2021.