When a woman is diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, doctors must decide exactly how much tissue needs to be removed during surgery. Getting this map right is vital for the best possible outcome. A study in Sweden looked at a specific imaging tool called Contrast Enhanced Mammography (CEM) to see if it helps surgeons better estimate where the cancer ends and healthy tissue begins.
The study followed 415 women undergoing surgery. While the tool did not meet its primary goal of changing treatment plans in at least 10% of cases, it did show a specific advantage. The CEM imaging was more accurate at estimating the extent of the cancer than standard methods like mammography, tomosynthesis, or ultrasound.
Even though the imaging was more precise at mapping the cancer, the study found no difference in mastectomy rates or reoperation rates between the group using CEM and the group using standard care. Because the study was small and did not meet its primary goal, the results are specific to these measurements rather than a broad change in surgical practice.
