Testing a New Imaging Method to Detect Breast Cancer Spread to Lymph Nodes

This trial is testing a new diagnostic imaging technique called immune checkpoint washout to help doctors more accurately detect whether breast cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes. Currently, doctors rely on physical exams, ultrasound, and sometimes biopsies to check for cancer spread—but these methods aren't always accurate or can take a long time. This study hopes to show that the new imaging method could be faster and more reliable.

Many breast cancer patients need to know whether their cancer has spread to lymph nodes, because this information is critical for planning treatment and predicting outcomes. However, current methods to detect lymph node involvement are either not very accurate (physical exams catch only about 1 in 3 cases) or require uncomfortable biopsies that take weeks to get results. This trial aims to find a faster, more accurate way to give patients answers.