Diaphanography as a means of detecting breast cancer.

Diaphanography (lightscanning) is a noninvasive method of examining the breast by transillumination using visible or infrared light. It was compared to xeromammography in 1,000 patients, 91 of whom had biopsy. There were 34 malignant tumors, of which 29 were detected by xeromammography and 26 by lightscanning; 27 patients with positive lightscans were not biopsied. All patients with true-positive lightscans also had positive mammograms. Major criteria of malignancy on diaphanography included an area of light absorption and abnormal or hypervascularity. These criteria could be demonstrated on retrospect on 6 scans previously considered negative; one xeromammogram previously interpreted as negative was diagnosed as positive on retrospect. Diaphanography may be sensitive enough to warrant further investigation.