An evaluation of transmission spectroscopy (lightscanning) in the diagnosis of symptomatic breast lesions

A prospective study of transmission spectroscopy (lightscanning) has been performed on 285 women presenting with symptomatic breast disease to one outpatient clinic. Of the 41 patients with histologically confirmed breast cancer lightscanning detected 36 (87.8%). In the study group 164 patients had both lightscans and mammography performed and, of the 30 biopsy-proven carcinomas in this group, lightscanning detected 26 (87%) and mammography 25 (83%). Lightscanning was positive in five of the six non-invasive breast cancers and in 13 of the 15 invasive carcinomas 2 cm or less in diameter. No carcinoma was misdiagnosed as benign when the results of both investigations were combined.