Carestream Health’s Multi-Modality Breast Imaging Workstation Streamlines Digital Workflow, Improves Radiologist Productivity

ROCHESTER, N.Y., April 23 — Healthcare facilities nationwide are turning to vendor-neutral, multi-modality breast imaging workstations to streamline reading of digital breast exams.

“Productivity at many U.S. facilities is hampered by the need to read full-field digital mammography (FFDM) exams on each vendor’s proprietary workstation, and then switch to additional workstations to review other types of breast exams. The need for an efficient workflow is driving strong sales for our flexible multi-modality workstation,” said Stephen W. Archer, Director of Worldwide Marketing, Mammography Solutions, Carestream Health, Inc.

The KODAK CARESTREAM Mammography Workstation enables diagnostic review of all breast imaging exams (FFDM, ultrasound, MR, CR and others) as well as all general radiology exams.

source: Carestream

Further Testing With Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI) Uncovers Additional Cancer in Breast Cancer Patients, Changes Surgical Management

NEWPORT NEWS, Va., April 27 /PRNewswire/ -- A study from Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, revealed today that additional breast cancer was found in 9 percent of patients when Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI) was used to complement mammography, substantially impacting surgical treatment. A total of 82 patients underwent BSGI for newly diagnosed breast cancer; of these, 18 had an additional abnormality, and 17 were biopsied. The findings were presented at the American Society of Breast Surgeons 2009 Annual Meeting in San Diego.

BSGI, a molecular breast imaging technique, is an adjunct 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 "dark spots" on the BSGI image. The Dilon 6800 Gamma Camera is a high-resolution, compact gamma camera, optimized to perform BSGI.

source: PR Newswire

3T MRI Detects “Early” Breast Cancer Not Seen on Mammography and Sonography

3T MRI, a powerful tool for evaluating patients with a high risk of having breast cancer, can detect a significant number of lesions not found on mammography and sonography, according to a study performed at the University of Toledo Medical Center, Toledo, OH.

The study included 434 women who underwent mammography, sonography and 3T MRI for the detection of malignant breast lesions—all women were at high risk. Results showed that 3T MRI detected 66/66 malignant lesions; mammography detected 54/66 malignant lesions; and sonography detected 57/66 malignant lesions. “3T MRI depicted a significantly higher number of malignant tumors of the breast than mammography and sonography,” said Haitham Elsamaloty, MD, lead author of the study.

“Our study detected ‘early’ breast cancer (lesions as small as 4 mm) in size and also identified malignant lesions that were only detected by MRI and confirmed by MRI guided biopsy. These crucial findings led to a significant change in patient management in 18.2% of the cases in our study.

“Our study suggests an important role for 3T MRI in such high risk groups for an early diagnosis of breast cancer and better accuracy in evaluating the extent of disease—a crucial factor in appropriate therapy planning,” said Dr. Elsamaloty.

“High field strength (3T) MRI systems are becoming increasingly available in the clinical setting and more of them are being used for the evaluation of breast malignancy. 3T MRI is an important addition to mammography and sonography,” he said.

This study appears in the April issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology. For a copy of the full study, please contact Heather Curry via email at hcurry@arrs.org.

source: ARRS

New Guidelines on Use of Breast MRI

New guidelines for the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for diagnosing breast cancer and making treatment decisions have been published in the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (2009;7:193-201).

The key recommendations state that MRI should not be used as a substitute for screening or diagnostic mammography or diagnostic breast ultrasound, but rather as a supplement to those imaging techniques; that surgical decisions should not be based solely on MRI findings, and that suspicious lesions should be biopsied before a surgery plan is devised; that MRI can find the location of cancer in the breast in the rare cases that cancer is found in the lymph nodes but not in the breast; and that MRI provides enhanced detection in both breasts in women with diagnosed breast cancer.

source: Oncology Nursing News

Surgical Gel Used To Stop Bleeding Could Confuse Mammograms

MAYWOOD, Ill. -- Dr. Kathleen Ward noticed something odd when she examined the mammogram of a patient who had recently undergone breast cancer surgery.

The Loyola University Health System radiologist saw a suspicious pattern of white specks, much like grains of salt. The specks were calcium deposits similar to microcalcifications that sometimes are a sign of early breast cancer. But it was too early for the patient's breast cancer to have returned because it had been only a month since her lumpectomy.

It turns out the microcalcifications were not from cancer. Rather, they were due to a gel that is sometimes used during surgery to stop bleeding. In a recent article in the American Journal of Roentgenology, Ward and colleagues reported seven cases in which the sealant mimicked malignant microcalcifications in mammograms.

The sealant, FloSeal, "is not recommended for use on breast tissue," Ward and colleagues wrote. Ward is Medical Director of Women's Health Imaging and an assistant professor in the Department of Radiology at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine.

source: Loyola Medicine

SenoRx Announces Launch of a New SenoSonix(tm) Model With a Portable Hand-Carry Laptop Ultrasound Component

IRVINE, Calif., Apr 9, 2009 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX News Network) -- SenoRx, Inc. (Nasdaq:SENO) today announced the launch of an additional model of its SenoSonix(tm) System. Like the original SenoSonix, the new model is an integration of SenoRx's EnCor(r) breast biopsy system with ultrasound imaging. This new version of the device incorporates a microminiaturization ultrasound technology that combines personal computing power and flexibility. The new ultrasound component is designed, developed and manufactured by Terason, a division of Teratech Corporation, based in Burlington, Massachusetts. This versatile and unique ultrasound technology coupled with SenoRx's proprietary EnCor vacuum-assisted biopsy technology results in an attractive alternative model of the SenoSonix System for our customers. The modular design and sophisticated imaging architecture are now available in a reduced footprint with increased portability. The SenoSonix System received 510(k) clearance in October 2007 and CE Mark approval in April 2008.

"Our new SenoSonix model is designed to meet the needs of breast surgeons performing breast biopsy procedures utilizing ultrasound in both their offices and in the hospital surgery suite who wish to have the flexibility of moving the ultrasound component between the two locations," said Lloyd Malchow, SenoRx President and Chief Executive Officer. "The new system may be particularly well suited for markets in Europe and Asia where a significant percentage of biopsy procedures are performed utilizing ultrasound. We are pleased to be working with Terason on this compact portable solution. We will begin introducing this product in the U.S. and in select countries in which we have launched the EnCor breast biopsy system."

source:SeoRx

Computer Based Model Helps Radiologists Diagnose Breast Cancer

Radiologists have developed a computer based model that aids them in discriminating between benign and malignant breast lesions, according to a study performed at the University Of Wisconsin School of Medicine, Madison, WI. The model was developed by a multidisciplinary group, including radiologists and industrial engineers, led by Elizabeth S. Burnside, MD, Oguzhan Alagoz, PhD, and Jagpreet Chhatwal, PhD.

“The computer based model was designed to help the radiologist calculate breast cancer risk based on abnormality descriptors like mass shape; mass margins; mass density; mass size; calcification shape and distribution,” said Elizabeth S. Burnside, MD, and Jagpreet Chhatwal, MD, lead authors to the study. “When the radiologist combined his/her assessment with the computer model the radiologist was able to detect 41 more cancers than when they didn’t use the model. The model was created based upon findings of 48,744 mammograms in a breast imaging reporting database and found that the use of hormones and a family history of breast cancer did not contribute significant predictive ability in this context,” they said.

“One of the important roles of a radiologist is to interpret observations made on mammograms and predict the likelihood of breast cancer. However, assessing the influence of each observation in the context of an increasing number of complex risk factors is difficult for the human brain. In this study, we developed a computer model that is designed to aid a radiologist in breast cancer risk prediction to improve accuracy and reduce variability,” said Drs. Burnside and Chhatwal.

source: ARRS

New Computer Imaging System for Breast Augmentation in New Jersey

A new computer imaging system for breast augmentation is helping New Jersey patients plan better procedures. Dr. Evan Sorokin, a breast enlargement surgeon in New Jersey, says that the new Portrait 3D imaging system helps allow for more accurate results and greater peace of mind during recovery.

Marlton, N.J. (PRWEB) April 2, 2009 -- A local breast augmentation plastic surgeon is the first to offer patients in the greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey areas an opportunity to plan procedures more accurately using a technologically advanced computer imaging system. Dr. Evan Sorokin (http://www.delawarevalleybreasts.com), a board-certified plastic surgeon performing cosmetic and reconstructive procedures such as breast enlargement in New Jersey says that his patients are already benefiting from his practice's newly acquired digital imaging system, which offers the next generation of imaging technology and allows women to preview and compare possible surgical outcomes before surgery.

"I'm very excited to see how this system is already helping my patients clarify their goals," Dr. Sorokin says. "Today, since breast augmentation patients in New Jersey have so many options to choose from, I am always looking for new ways to simplify the decision-making process. My patients definitely appreciate being able to compare their options visually, and the system factors in each patient's skin and tissue type to more accurately reflect cosmetic surgery results."

source: eMediaWire