‘Elastogram’ instantly diagnoses breast cancer

In a new method that has just been developed, elastography uses ultrasound to determine whether or not a woman has cancer without doing a biopsy. Having a nearl 100% accuracy rate, this method has been proven to be very accurate and a possible replacement to biopsies. The expected cost of this technique is between $100-$200 while a biopsy current cost between $200-$1000. Upon these two basis, elastography is a definite possibility.

Elastography uses high-frequency waves to picture the inside of a part of the body. In the article, an expert describes the technique of ultrasound using the analogy of a matress. In a matress, there are a lot of springs. The body would naturally have tons more. With the case of cancer, these flexible and movable springs woule be stuck in place thereby creating an image through the echos that ultrasound uses.

"Breast cancer shows up larger on an elastogram than it does on a traditional ultrasound image, perhaps because the elastogram can “see” the scar tissue around the cancer, Ophir said."

In my opinion, I think that this is a great technique that has a lot of potential; however, this is only an experimental technique right now and needs to be perfected and given more time to work out the kinks. If everthing is seen through to the end, then there is a definite chance that this technique will work and possibly even lead to other similar techniques that are also relatively cheap for the patient.