Latest news with #Kromek
BBC News
14-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Prototype 'to light up' hidden breast cancers
A prototype scanner designed to detect cancerous tumours in women with dense breast tissue could "ultimately save more lives", researchers say. Dense tissue shows up as white on mammograms, but tumours are also white - so they can be hard to detect. Developed by technology group Kromek in partnership with Newcastle Hospitals, Newcastle University and University College London (UCL), the new imaging uses a radioactive tracer that "lights up" breast cancers. The project is set to enter clinical trials once testing is complete. Dr Nerys Forester, a consultant breast radiologist at Newcastle Hospitals, said "around 40% of women have dense breast tissue, but this only becomes evident when they attend their mammogram". She said it was not usually a cause of concern as screening with mammogram was effective, but "women with dense breast tissue do have a slightly increased risk of getting breast cancer".When breasts are very dense they show up on a mammogram as white, she said, "so we are looking something white in the midst of potentially a lot of white tissue". It is often described as "looking for a little white cloud in a cloudy sky".Dr Forester said new technologies to improve the detection of cancer in dense breasts was "really important" and she was delighted with progress of the new prototype since the project began in 2022. "Our hope is that this technology could ultimately save more lives lost to breast cancer in the future," she said. Aly Murphy, a nurse and breast cancer patient, has been involved in the research, which she describes as "thrilling". The 65-year-old said she found out by accident that she had dense breast tissue and believes it is possible her cancer could have otherwise been been missed. She describes the project as "pushing the boundaries of screening, and that's what we really need to do". "I find it absolutely exciting. I think it's revolutionary." Technology company Kromek, based in Sedgefield, County Durham, holds contracts with the Ministry of Defence supplying nuclear radiation executive Dr Arnab Basu hopes his machine will also detect these difficult-to-diagnose breast cancers."It is very similar to nuclear medicine in other parts of diagnostic imaging," he said. "The patient will be injected with a tracer that is designed to deposit on nuclear cells."He said the technology allowed laser focus on the cancer cells, and they "literally light up". Prototype trials are now under way at Newcastle Hospitals. Its Northern Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering team is leading on the device regulation, and the National Institute for Health and Care Research HealthTech Research Centre in Diagnostic and Technology Evaluation is also involved. Prof Kris Thielemans, professor in medical imagine physics at UCL, said the collaboration between teams had "made excellent progress", adding he believed the technology had "considerable potential" for use beyond breast imaging. The project has received £2.5m from Innovate UK. It will enter clinical trials once the current phase of prototype testing is completed. Breast Cancer Now's Sally Kum said the charity "wholeheartedly" supported the "ongoing research into breast imaging technologies that could improve cancer detection in dense breasts".Ms Kum said if the government's UK National Screening Committee found that evidence supported a specific approach to measuring breast density and offering alternative imaging for screening women with dense breasts, "we'll push for those changes to be rolled out as quickly as possible across the UK".She added the charity still encouraged eligible women to attend mammogram screening when invited. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Daily Mirror
23-04-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Breast cancer breakthrough as new super-fast scanner unveiled
Experts believe a new 'super fast' scanner will find tumours that traditional mammograms often miss - and it takes just 10 minutes. A new super-fast scanner will help to detect breast cancer in just 10 minutes. The breakthrough offers hope for early detection in women with dense breast tissue. Experts believe it will find tumours that traditional mammograms often miss. Known as ultra-fast molecular breast imaging (UFMBI), the pioneering technology creates 3D scans and is specially designed to pick up cancers in women with dense breast tissue. It affects up to 40% of women and can make mammograms less reliable. A working prototype of the system has been developed and is currently being trialled in Newcastle. Current mammograms can struggle to spot breast cancer in dense tissue, where both the tissue and any potential tumours appear white on the scan, making it harder to see the difference. While extra scans like MRIs can help, they're expensive and take up to an hour to complete, and not ideal for routine screening. The new scanner uses a special tracer that 'lights up' cancer cells, offering greater precision, faster results, and much lower radiation exposure than existing systems. It also gives a clear 3D image, meaning doctors can pinpoint the exact location of any tumour more easily. Dr Nerys Forester, consultant breast radiologist at Newcastle Hospitals, said: 'Around 40% of women have dense breast tissue, but this only becomes evident when they attend their mammogram. This is not usually a cause for concern as screening with mammograms is effective, but women with dense breast tissue do have a slightly increased risk of getting breast cancer. "Finding new technologies that can improve our ability to detect breast cancer in dense breasts is really important. We are delighted with the progress we have made with Kromek, Newcastle University and UCL since the project began in 2022. Our hope is that this technology could ultimately save more lives lost to breast cancer in the future.' Dr George Petrides, consultant radiologist in Nuclear Medicine at Newcastle Hospitals, added: 'We are really excited by the advances in technology that are being achieved as part of the project. "This technology has the potential to make a real difference in breast cancer screening and aspects of the project could in fact have a wider impact in nuclear medicine scanning.' The project has received £2.5 million in funding from Innovate UK and will enter clinical trials once prototype testing is complete. Dr Arnab Basu, CEO of Kromek, said: 'Ultra-fast molecular breast imaging technology has the capacity to save women's lives by enabling earlier, faster, more accurate detection of aggressive breast cancers, especially in those with dense breast tissue where conventional mammography often fails. 'With cutting-edge cadmium zinc telluride detectors and advanced electronics, this technology delivers faster scans at a lower radiation dose, transforming a standard 2D image into a precise 3D view. Currently in prototype trials at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals, the system is poised to make breast cancer screening both more effective and accessible for those most at risk.' Professor Kris Thielemans, professor in medical imaging physics at UCL, told how the project represented "an important opportunity for advancing breast cancer detection and improving diagnostic options for women with dense breast tissue". He added: 'By developing this imaging technology, we are moving closer to making early detection accessible and more effective for a broader range of patients. 'Our collaboration has made excellent progress, and we are hopeful that this technology will play a key role in supporting better health outcomes. 'Furthermore, I believe that this novel technology has considerable potential for applications beyond breast imaging.'
