Siemens Sets A New Standard For Breast Ultrasound

New automated breast ultrasound system automatically acquires volumes and offers intelligent clinical applications. Siemens Healthcare recently introduced the Acuson S2000 Automated Breast Volume Scanner (ABVS), the first multi-use ultrasound breast system that automatically acquires volume images of the breast. Thanks to the user-independent, standardized image acquisition, the system is ideally suited for early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer with ultrasound - especially for women with dense breast tissue.

According to the New England Journal of Medicine1, dense breast tissue increases the risk of breast cancer for a woman up to five-fold. While mammography remains the method of choice in breast cancer screening, a study published by the RSNA (Radiological Society of North America) in 20022 showed that the detection rate for non-palpable, invasive breast cancer increased by 42 percent when mammography was followed by an ultrasound examination.

source: Medical News Today

Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI) Uncovers Additional Breast Cancer in Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer Patients

NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Feb. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Women facing a recent breast cancer diagnosis may find additional cancer in the same or opposite breast with further testing using Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI) according to a study published in the February 2009 "American Journal of Surgery." BSGI detected additional or more extensive breast cancer in the same or opposite breast in 10.9 percent of newly diagnosed patients according to the study.

BSGI, a molecular breast imaging technique, is a follow-up to mammography that can see lesions independent of tissue density and discover early stage cancers. With BSGI, the patient receives a pharmaceutical tracing agent that is absorbed by all the cells in the body. Due to their increased rate of metabolic activity, cancerous cells in the breast absorb a greater amount of the tracing agent than normal, healthy cells and generally appear as "hot spots" on the BSGI image. The Dilon 6800 Gamma Camera is a high-resolution, compact field-of-view gamma camera, optimized to perform BSGI.

source: PR Newswire

Innovation For Women's Health - The New MRI Breast Scanner From Siemens

Siemens Healthcare recently presented its first MRI breast scanner, Magnetom Espree-Pink. This 1.5-Tesla system is the latest innovation in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) from Siemens, featuring a dedicated solution for breast examinations. Particularly for obese and claustrophobic patients, the large, 70-centimeter magnet bore makes examinations more comfortable than with previous systems, or, in some cases, it makes them possible for the first time ever. The flexible design of the "Sentinelle Vanguard for Siemens" breast coil also optimizes the clinical workflow. Comprehensive applications, such as syngo Grace or syngo Views, additionally set a new standard in Women's Health.

source: Medical News Today

CAD With Full-Field Digital Mammography Shows High Sensitivity In Assisting Radiologists To Detect Early-Stage Breast Cancers

iCAD, Inc. (Nasdaq: ICAD), an industry leading provider of advanced image analysis and workflow solutions for the early identification of cancer, today announced publication of peer-reviewed data on its SecondLook Computer-Aided Detection (CAD) technology in the February issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology (Volume 192, Issue 2). The study, by Juliette The, MD and Kathy Schilling, MD included 123 cancers detected with full-field digital mammography (FFDM).

The article, titled “Detection of Breast Cancer with Full-Field Digital Mammography and Computer-Aided Detection,” found the following:

· CAD with FFDM showed a high sensitivity in identifying cancers

· The SecondLook CAD correctly marked 94% of biopsy-proven cancers

· The sensitivity of iCAD’s SecondLook CAD was not dependent on the size of the tumor; it was equally accurate with small and large lesions

“Our experience with the SecondLook CAD has been quite positive,” said Dr. Juliette The, Radiologist at Boca RatonCommunityHospital in Boca Raton, FL. “I am pleased with its ease-of-use and ability to help radiologists find more cancers, at an earlier stage. Coupled with full-field digital mammography, which has been shown to be more accurate in certain populations of women, we feel that CAD is an important tool that highlights the areas of a mammogram warranting closer inspection.”

source: iCAD Press Release

Frost & Sullivan Names Naviscan a Leader in the Future of Molecular Breast Imaging

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Feb. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on its recent analysis of the medical imaging market, Frost & Sullivan presents Naviscan, Inc. with the 2009 North American Frost & Sullivan Award for Emerging Technology of the Year. The Award recognizes the company's impressive progress in developing to market a next-generation, breast-specific PET scanner and adjunct biopsy guidance system that is set to redefine the standard of care for breast cancer patients.

Naviscan distinguished itself in 2008 as the only company to commercially offer a Positron Emission Mammography (PEM) imaging scanner as well as an adjunct PEM-guided biopsy accessory. As the market and technology leader in molecular breast imaging (MBI), the company's promising technology continues to garner the attention of some of the nation's leading women's imaging facilities, including Manhattan Diagnostic Radiology, a practice that was recently recognized as a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology.

"MBI has rapidly created a sizeable niche market for itself as a proven adjunct technology to traditional, full-field digital mammography (FFDM)," says Frost & Sullivan Industry Analyst Travis Chong. "To capitalize on the upward trend of an aging female population with dense breast tissue and other high-risk factors, a growing number of women's imaging centers are turning to MBI, in particular PEM, in recognition of the modality's added clinical value and favorable Medicare/Medicaid and private payor reimbursement."

source; PR Newswire

Sentinelle Medical Enters OEM Distribution Agreement with Siemens AG

TORONTO, Feb. 17 /PRNewswire/ - Sentinelle Medical Inc., a leading manufacturer of breast MRI coils and software and Siemens Healthcare today announced an OEM Distribution Agreement for Sentinelle's Vanguard(R) coils. Under this agreement, Siemens will sell the "Sentinelle Vanguard for Siemens" coil for the MRI family members MAGNETOM(R) Espree, MAGNETOM(R) Avanto and MAGNETOM(R) Symphony, A Tim(TM) System. The Sentinelle Vanguard for Siemens is also integrated into the new MAGNETOM Espree - Pink, a dedicated system devoted to excellence in MR Breast Care. The Agreement also anticipates future development collaborations.

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women. In 2008, 182,460 new cases were diagnosed and 40,480 women died of breast cancer in the US(1). The National Cancer Institute estimates that a woman has a 1-in-8 chance of developing breast cancer during her lifetime. The American Cancer Society's new screening guidelines will impact up to one million high-risk women by recommending they receive additional annual MRI screenings. A high percentage of these women will benefit from breast MRI.

The Sentinelle Vanguard for Siemens enables excellent quality MR images of the breast and provides complete and open access for intervention with an award winning design that optimizes patient comfort and workflow.

source: PR Newswire

New guidelines emphasize use of breast MRI to supplement standard imaging

SEATTLE – Updated guidelines for physicians that represent best practices for using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to newly diagnose breast cancer and to make treatment decisions for breast cancer were published today in the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Breast radiologists and surgeons at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA) and the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, N.Y. authored the paper upon which the guidelines are based.

The SCCA breast imaging program led by Connie Lehman, M.D., has established itself as a national leader in breast MRI based on pioneering research it has published in the past few years. Lehman is corresponding author of today's journal paper, "Indications for Breast MRI in the Patient with Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer." The study summarizes an extensive review of published, peer-reviewed studies.

Among the key recommendations:

* MRI is not a substitute for screening or diagnostic mammography and, when indicated, diagnostic breast ultrasound. MRI supplements the use of these standard imaging tools in appropriately selected clinical situations.
* For women with diagnosed breast cancer, MRI provides enhanced detection in both the breast known to have cancer and the opposite, or "contralateral," breast.
* Surgical decisions should not be based solely on MRI findings because not all suspicious lesions on MRI are cancer. Suspicious lesions should be biopsied before a surgery plan is devised in order to avoid surgical overtreatment.
* In the rare instances where cancer is found in the lymph nodes but not the breast, an MRI can find the location of cancer in the breast in nearly 60 percent of women.

source: EurekAlert

Medipattern(R) Launches New B-CAD-For-Life(TM)

The Medipattern Corporation (TSX VENTURE:MKI - News), a pioneer in the development of medical software solutions that help improve imaging workflow and productivity, announces its new sales model for accessing the benefits of B-CAD. The new model offers all of the separate components that are required to install, train, use and maintain B-CAD as one package under one monthly service fee. Medipattern is effectively managing the service of providing computer aided detection (CAD) for breast ultrasound imaging for its customers with the B-CAD-FOR-LIFE(TM) plan.

"We first spotted B-CAD for the benefits that it could offer our practice early last year, but we are a small business on a tight budget," stated Olga Tsireshkin, MD founder of XXI Century Radiology and Imaging, P. C. located in Brooklyn, New York. "With B-CAD-FOR-LIFE, Medipattern still owns its asset, B-CAD; installs it, trains our staff in how to use it and maintains it for a monthly fee. This can give XXI Century immediate access to all of the benefits of B-CAD: saving time in documenting each case, improving communication of detailed information, that CAD second opinion, and reimbursement for the procedure in an affordable package.

source: YahooFinance (press release)

Dilon Technologies Leads Molecular Breast Imaging Expansion

NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Feb. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Dilon Technologies, Inc., a leader in molecular breast imaging, today announced record sales for 2008 highlighted by the strongest fourth quarter in the company's history. The company achieved a 35 percent increase in sales from 2007 to 2008 as molecular breast imaging gains nationwide exposure and acceptance.

Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI) - a molecular imaging procedure, along with breast MRI, are expected to increase at a compound growth rate of 28 percent over the next five years, according to the Millennium Research Group's U.S. Markets for Women's Health Imaging Systems report. It also states that Dilon Technologies is leading the way to global availability of molecular breast imaging. Dilon's cornerstone product, the Dilon 6800 Gamma Camera is a high-resolution, compact gamma camera optimized to perform BSGI.

"We had a particularly strong finish to the year, breaking through a monthly sales record in December," said Bob Moussa, President and CEO of Dilon Technologies. "Breast imaging centers across the country and around the world are using BSGI to pave the way to effective diagnosis of breast cancer."

source: PR Newswire

Radiologists Overestimate Their Overall Risk of Malpractice Lawsuits in Breast Imaging

Radiologists who work in breast imaging tend to overestimate their actual risk of medical malpractice lawsuits, according to a study performed at the University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine in Seattle, WA.

The study included two separate surveys, one in 2002 and one in 2006 that asked radiologists in diverse regions of the US two questions: Have you ever had a previous malpractice claim related to mammography? And what do you think is your future probability of being sued in the next five years? Results showed that “the radiologist’s median estimate for the likelihood of being sued was four times higher than their actual risk,” said Joann G. Elmore, MD, lead author of the study. In 2002, a radiologist’s perceived risk of being sued in the next five years was 41% and in 2006 was 35%. The actual percentage of radiologists who reported malpractice claims five years prior to 2002 was 8% and the actual percentage of radiologists who reported malpractice claims five years prior to the 2006 survey was 10%. “Their perception of risk is much higher than the reported reality,” she said.

source: ARRS

Mammography missed high proportion of breast cancer in Mexican-American women

Data from the ongoing multicenter Ella Binational Breast Cancer Study suggest that despite a high rate of mammography screening reported by Mexican-American women a high percentage of breast cancer is not being detected using this method.

The data were presented yesterday at a press conference at the AACR 2009 Science of Cancer Health Disparities meeting.

Researchers from the University of Arizona Cancer Center in Tucson and The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston used data from the U.S. population of the study to assess the relationship between education level, acculturation and breast cancer screening behaviors. The study included 230 women of Mexican descent with breast cancer. Study participants were aged 40 years or older and resided in Texas (n=138) or Arizona (n=92).

Data indicated self-detection was the most common method of breast cancer detection (67%), followed by mammography (23%), clinical examination (6%) or other methods (3%).

source: HemOnc today

Mammography Utilization in the United States Decreases: A State-Level Look

Nearly two thirds of the states in the US saw a small decrease in mammography utilization between the years 2000 and 2006, according to a study performed at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, GA.

Data showed that although mammography use in 17 states including Minnesota, Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama had increased slightly between 2002 and 2006, mammography use in 34 states and the District of Columbia including Utah, South Carolina, New Mexico and Delaware had a slight decrease. The decrease in utilization ranged from -0.3% to -5.3%. The CDC also reviewed incidence rates and found that between 2000 and 2004 all but one state (Tennessee) had a decrease in breast cancer incidence rates. There was no clear pattern among the states though in regards to region, average age, average income or population density.

“The Government Accountability Office reported that there was a 6% decrease in mammography facilities use across the US, but despite their report there is a growing concern that this rate in low resource areas could be higher,” said Jacqueline Miller, MD, lead author of the study.

source: ARRS

New Technique Predicts Breast Cancer Chemtherapy Effectiveness

Atlanta (February 2, 2009) —Chemotherapy is an integral part of modern cancer treatment, but it’s not always effective. Successful chemotherapy depends on the ability of anticancer drugs to escape from the bloodstream through the leaky blood vessels that often surround tumors.

Predicting chemotherapy’s efficacy could save thousands of individuals from unnecessary toxicity and the often difficult side effects of the treatments

In a study published in the February issue of the journal Radiology, researchers describe a technique for determining the “leakiness” of tumor blood vessels using a simple digital mammography unit. The researchers designed nanometer-sized capsules containing a contrast agent that could only leak into tumors with blood vessels that were growing and therefore leaky. The digital mammography-based quantification of “leakiness” is closely correlated to the ability of a clinically approved chemotherapy agent to enter the tumor, allowing the researchers to predict the agent’s therapeutic efficacy.

source: Georgia Institute of Technology (News Release)

At NCBC, DR Systems to Exhibit Market-Leading Integration of PACS with Digital Mammography

DR Systems will exhibit its market-leading integration of PACS and digital mammography, during the upcoming National Consortium of Breast Centers’ (NCBC) 19th annual conference.

DR Systems will be in Booth 53 during the conference, which runs from Mar. 15-18 at Planet Hollywood, in Las Vegas.

The breast imaging, reporting and tracking functions of DR Systems’ Unity™ RIS/PACS are now successfully operating at 30 customer sites. The system is providing a comprehensive solution for full-field digital mammography (FFDM), third-party CAD, breast MRI and ultrasound, and breast reporting with automated regulatory compliance, including MQSA.

Exams from all modalities, including digitized prior film-based mammograms, can be read and compared on the same workstation. The system is designed to support all imaging and information from the Unity System.

This approach avoids many problems encountered by early adopters of FFDM that purchased dedicated standalone workstations. These facilities have discovered their setup has compounded inefficiencies by creating isolated islands of information separate from their PACS infrastructure.

press release: DR Systems