Positron Emission Mammography

Positron emission mammography (PEM) is a form of positron emission tomography that uses high-resolution, minicamera detection technology for imaging the breast. As with positron emission tomography, PEM provides functional rather than anatomic information about the breast. PEM has been studied primarily for use in presurgical planning and evaluation of breast lesions. For individuals who are being screened for breast cancer the evidence includes a retrospective study. Relevant outcomes are overall survival, disease-specific survival, test accuracy and validity, and resource utilization. It has not been demonstrated that PEM provides better diagnostic accuracy than the relevant comparators nor has PEM been shown to provide clinical utility. In addition, without demonstrated advantages in clinical utility, the relatively high radiation dosage associated with PEM does not favor its use given that alternative tests deliver lower doses. The evidence is insufficient to determine the effects of the technology on health outcomes. For individuals with clinically localized breast cancer undergoing presurgical evaluation, the evidence includes prospective studies. Relevant outcomes are overall survival, disease-specific survival, test accuracy and validity, and resource utilization. It has not been demonstrated that PEM provides better diagnostic accuracy than the relevant comparators nor has PEM been shown to provide clinical utility. In addition, without demonstrated advantages in clinical utility, the relatively high radiation dosage associated with PEM does not favor its use given that alternative tests deliver lower doses. The evidence is insufficient to determine the effects of the technology on health outcomes. For individuals with a suspicious breast lesion on conventional breast cancer evaluation, the evidence includes prospective studies as well as a meta-analysis. Relevant outcomes are overall survival, disease-specific survival, test accuracy and validity, and resource utilization. It has not been demonstrated that PEM provides better diagnostic accuracy than the relevant comparators nor has PEM been shown to provide clinical utility. In addition, without demonstrated advantages in clinical utility, the relatively high radiation dosage associated with PEM does not favor its use given that alternative tests deliver lower doses. The evidence is insufficient to determine the effects of the technology on health outcomes <a id="