Clinical Relevance
Tumor Imaging – A Challenge
Many patients are diagnosed with cancer every year worldwide. Tumor diagnosis is still a challenge and many patients are not diagnosed early enough to allow an effective treatment.
Current tumor imaging methods offer varying sensitivity, specificity, safety and cost. None of the methods to date are of a sufficient high quality to meet all aspects necessary for general tumor visualization. Mammography is fast, cheap and has good specificity but insufficient sensitivity, therefore missing a substantial number of tumors. Studies have shown that women at a high risk of developing breast cancer have substantially increased chances of being diagnosed at an early stage if regularly screened by MRI vs mammography alone. Mammography, as well as CT and PET, use ionizing radiation which increase the risk of cancer.
MRI provides high sensitivity without radiation but has unacceptable levels of false positives.
Although a very powerful imaging modality, MRI is not used to its fullest potential for tumor visualization, primarily due to the number of false positives generated (particularly breast cancer screening) and cost. There is a clear need to improve specificity but also sensitivity of the method to provide more accurate diagnoses. Shortened examination time would lower the cost and improve patient comfort. A new contrast agent that provides improved image quality that affects clinical decisions will, according to KOLs in the field, result in an increased use of CE-MRI and thus expand the use of MRI for tumor visualization to the benefit of the patients.
Most of today’s contrast agents are based on small molecule gadolinium chelates. These rapidly distribute in the tissues leading to a short time-window for imaging and low contrast between tumor and surrounding tissue. Gadolinium has also been linked to NSF (Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis), a severe and debilitating disease that can affect patients with impaired renal function.
SPAGO Pix provide potential for detection of smaller tumors with higher specificity than what is possible with MRI and mammography today. This opens up new possibilities for screening of high risk patients without ionizing radiation as well as diagnosis, treatment planning and monitoring of cancer patients.
More accurate and earlier diagnosis can lead to improved treatment and less suffering as well as lower healthcare costs and allow more patients to receive a highly sensitive tumor examination.
