Breast biopsies have been very common for checking for cancer cells. However, a combination of a couple areas of technology using both light and sound waves may be changing all of that. The result could mean breast biopsies being conducted very rarely. The August edition of Radiology magazine offers the results of this method known as Ultrasound Guided Optical Tomography.

The study covers the use of it during the early stages of breast cancer. It has been a successful tool for identifying lesions around the breast tissue. This information is according to Quin Zhu, PHD how is a professor of Bioengineering at the University of Connecticut. The technique will be able to determine if the breast lesion is benign. Therefore a biopsy would no longer be needed in the majority of the cases.

The fact that approximately 75% of all breast biopsies done result in the lesions being benign means that they weren’t necessary. Yet there was no way to tell until they were done. A breast biopsy can cause a great deal of anxiety and it can also be very expensive. This new method is fast, affordable, and accurate according to the study.

Image Credit: