Scientists Support Breast Cancer Test

A powerful ultrasound can significantly reduce the number of American women who undergo surgery to tell if their breast lumps are cancerous or benign, government scientists said Monday.

The scientific panel unanimously urged the Food and Drug Administration to approve the High-Definition Imaging, or HDI, ultrasound as a test to help doctors decide which women need a biopsy and which can skip the surgery.

“This will help women in general who have suspicious lesions,” said Dr. David Hackney, a radiologist at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital.