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Updated Wednesday, July 13, 2011 11:24 pm TWN, The China Post news staff

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INER unveils newly developed PET scan to detect breast cancer

The Institute of Nuclear Energy Research (INER) under the Cabinet-level Atomic Energy Council (AEC) has developed a new high-caliber breast positron emission tomography (PET) system, dubbed INER Breast PET, setting a new milestone in the nation's development of high-end medical imaging test equipment.

The INER managed to develop patented key technologies on scanning and the image engine to come out with the high-end Breast PET, which is based on over 40 years of accumulated research experience and under the joint support from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the AEC.

A Breast PET scan is an imaging test that uses a radioactive substance — called a tracer — to look for breast cancer. This tracer can help identify areas of cancer that an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan may miss.

Breast cancer now ranks as the second leading cause of deaths for women in the world, and is the top cause of death for women in Taiwan. As mammographic density of women in Asia is relatively higher, X-ray breast examinations are not suitable and some women would rather spend more to receive an MRI scan.

But based on a survey of 388 women scanned by six hospitals in the U.S. under the sponsorship of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, Breast PET is superior to MRI in identifying areas of breast cancer, as well as the radiation dose needed being 70 percent lower than what is required for an MRI scan. In addition, the cost of the INER Breast PET is only one sixth to one fourth of the cost for an MRI scan, according to the INER.

INER noted that its Breast PET can benefit more than 30,000 women in Taiwan by helping them effectively identify breast cancer as soon as possible.

The Executive Yuan has created a biotechnology development program, which aims to rank Taiwan among the world's top three producers of high-caliber medical imaging test systems in the world by the end of 2020, according to INER.

In 2010, the global market for high-caliber radiation imaging test equipment for medical uses topped US$16 billion, accounting for 52 percent of medical scanners.

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