Philips receives FDA clearance to market MicroDose SI mammography system

ANDOVER, Mass., Feb. 28, 2013 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Royal Philips Electronics PHG -1.45% (aex:PHIA) today announces 510(k) clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its MicroDose SI system, the first full-field digital mammography (FFDM) system on the market with the capability to enable future Single-Shot Spectral Imaging applications*. Philips is working on future software applications like Spectral Breast Density Measurement*, which will build upon the MicroDose SI technology.

High breast density is a known risk factor for breast cancer--women with high breast density (as seen on a mammogram) are four to five times more likely to get breast cancer than women with low breast density1. Additionally, high breast density features a high proportion of connective tissue, which blocks X-rays, making it difficult for clinicians to interpret breast images. As a result, categorization of breast density has become mandatory in many countries and several states in the United States. Unfortunately, there is not yet a standardized method for assessing breast density, which has limited making use of the density categorization for clinical decisions. The most frequently used method of breast density assessment is subjective manual and visual inspection of the image--different radiologists may give different scoring of breast density for the same image.

source: MarketWatch

Hologic to Showcase Breast Tomosynthesis Technology and Other Product Innovations at ECR in Vienna

BEDFORD, Mass., Feb. 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Hologic, Inc. (Hologic or the Company) (Nasdaq: HOLX), a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of premium diagnostics products, medical imaging systems and surgical products dedicated to serving the healthcare needs of women, will display an extensive suite of healthcare solutions for breast cancer screening and diagnosis, breast biopsy, osteoporosis risk assessment, medical MRI coils, and extremity imaging at the annual meeting of the European Society of Radiology, in Vienna, Austria March 7 – 11. The European Congress of Radiology (ECR), the largest radiological meeting in Europe, annually attracts over 20,000 participants representing the medical specialty of radiology throughout Europe and many other countries of the world.

"All eyes in the radiology community are on Vienna in March and the five-day European Congress of Radiology," said David Harding , Hologic's Senior Vice President and General Manager, International. "We believe this will be an exceptionally exciting time to reach out to the radiology world with our newest innovations in imaging. Of particular interest this year are advances in our breast tomosynthesis program, including the introduction of a tomosynthesis biopsy option for our Affirm breast biopsy guidance system. In addition, a significant number of peer-reviewed papers have been accepted by major scientific journals, including the recent publication of the results of the Oslo Breast Tomosynthesis Screening Trial. This and other publications continue to build support for the benefits of Hologic's breast tomosynthesis - improved accuracy compared to conventional mammography, resulting in earlier detection of cancers and a reduced need for recalls."

source: PR Newswire

Digirad Corporation Launches Molecular Breast Imaging Accessory for Expanded Use of ergo™ Imaging System

POWAY, CA -- (Marketwire) -- 02/21/13 -- Digirad Corporation (NASDAQ: DRAD), a leading provider of diagnostic imaging products, and personnel and equipment leasing services, today announced the launch of their Molecular Breast Imaging Accessory for the ergo™ Imaging System, further expanding the clinical flexibility of the ergo™ Imaging System for applications in the area of women's health, as well as in nuclear medicine where the ergo™ Imaging System is currently used for a wide variety of clinical applications.

The introduction of Digirad's Molecular Breast Imaging Accessory follows the U.S. FDA 510(k) market clearance recently received for expanded use of the ergo™ Imaging System, which includes Indications for Use to aid in the evaluation of lesions in the breast and other small body parts. When used for breast imaging, the ergo™ Imaging System can be used as an adjunct to mammography or other primary breast imaging modalities.

Digirad Chief Executive Officer Todd Clyde noted that this launch marks another key step in the company's strategy to expand its imaging technology footprint in the hospital through the use of flexible, portable systems with devices that have expanded diagnostics capabilities.

"We believe the Molecular Breast Imaging Accessory fills an important market need and is a natural addition to the ergo™ Imaging System," said Clyde. "Advanced diagnostic modalities are often necessary to help clinicians identify lesions in the breast, and our new Molecular Breast Imaging Accessory provides this capability. It is a cost-effective, non-dedicated option for molecular breast imaging that enhances the clinical capabilities and operational efficiencies of the ergo™ Imaging System."

source: DigiRad

Faxitron Introduces New Surgical Specimen Container

TUCSON, Ariz., Feb. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Faxitron, the leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of dedicated digital specimen radiography systems expands their solution for intraoperative imaging of breast specimens with the introduction of the Faxitron® Wedge™, a revolutionary new surgical specimen container. The Wedge™ is designed to work in conjunction with the Faxitron® BioVision, allowing surgeons to quickly and simply image the specimen from multiple views, without compromising image quality, facilitating better gross margin assessment and potentially lowering re-excision rates.

Clinical findings have illustrated the importance of radiographically marking the tissue specimen and utilizing two orthogonal views to significantly reduce re-excision rates during breast conservation surgery. Intra-operative specimen radiography has become a common practice in most breast programs. However, obtaining orthogonal views is not widely practiced, predominately because there has not been a consistent, reliable means of performing this in the surgical suite.

source: PR Newswire

Morris Gad Praises Research in Breast Cancer Detection Methods

NEW YORK, Feb. 6, 2013 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Medical News Today has released an article detailing new research that has improved breast cancer detection rates. According to the report, "Three-dimensional mammography combined with conventional breast imaging can increase breast cancer detection by 27 percent." Morris Gad, who is involved in many philanthropies and supports such research, congratulates researchers on their findings and encourages future initiatives to continue to build upon the success that today's studies have achieved.

The article explains that the research was conducted by experts working at the University of Olso in Norway. Originally, the results of their efforts were published in "Radiology," a scholarly journal. In addition to the findings listed above, the study found that false-positives were decreased by 15 percent when using the combined three-dimensional mammography, or tomosynthesis, alongside traditional imaging practices.

source: PR Newswire

MDH Radiology selects Sectra for nationwide telemammography solution

MDH Radiology, through its unique and comprehensive delivery model, will utilize Sectra Breast Imaging PACS to provide remote reading of mammograms to its customers according to a recently signed agreement with the international medical imaging IT company, Sectra (Link) (STO: SECT B).

The agreement also includes integrated breast density software provided by VolparaTM, digital reporting software and Breast Cancer Risk profiles by PenRadTM and Merge Healthcare’s CADstreamTM for breast MRI readings. Via a multi-tiered service offering, MDH Radiology will assist healthcare providers to bridge the gap in their existing breast imaging and biopsy services.

“It is time for all women to have access to consistent, high-quality breast care regardless of their geographic region,” says MDH Radiology Founder and President, Dr. Hurvitz. “There is a disparity in access to critical screening and diagnostic services in many areas of the country that is unacceptable. My mission is to connect women everywhere with the outstanding quality of care they deserve when it comes to their breast health. ”

source: Secta

Digital Breast Tomosynthesis Cuts Recall Rates by 40 Percent

Adding digital breast tomosynthesis to 2D mammography screening results in a 40% reduction in patient recall rates compared to routine screening mammography alone, a new study shows.

The study, conducted at Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, CT, of 7,578 screening mammograms, found that the recall rate was 6.6% for digital breast tomosynthesis plus 2D screening mammography. It was 11.1% for 2D screening mammography alone, said Melissa Durand, MD, one of the authors of the study.

Similar recall rates were seen in both groups for masses, but the recall rate was significantly lower with digital breast tomosynthesis and 2D mammography compared to 2D mammography alone for asymmetries and calcifications, said Dr. Durand. The recall rate was 2.8% for asymmetries when both techniques were used compared to 7.1% for routine screening mammography, she said. “Tomosynthesis, which is 3D mammography, allows us to look at the breast in 1 mm slices. In routine mammography, breast tissue is compressed and overlying tissue can look like a suspicious finding. Tomosynthesis resolves this by looking slice by slice,” said Liane Philpotts, MD, a study author.

The radiation dose for the combined examination is below the Food and Drug Administration limit for mammography and below the dose of film mammography, noted Dr. Durand.

source: American Roentgen Ray Society

Preop MRI Valuable in Detecting Additional Malignancies in Dense & Not Dense Breasts

Newly diagnosed breast cancer patients should undergo a preoperative MRI exam even if their breasts are not dense, a new study indicates. The study found no difference between the usefulness of 3T breast MRI in detecting additional malignancies and high risk lesions in dense versus non-dense breasts. Related

"There are currently no guidelines that define the role of breast density in determining if a preoperative MRI should be performed. However, anecdotally, we know that preoperative MRI exams tend to be ordered more frequently in younger patients and/or patients with dense breast tissue," said Reena Vashi, MD, one of the authors of the study.

The study of 127 patients, conducted at Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, CT, found that 3T MRI detected additional malignancies in 26% of patients who had breasts that were not considered dense and in 25% of patients with dense breasts, said Dr. Vashi. There was no difference in the patients with dense breasts compared to those without dense breasts in regard "to the size of lesions detected, or the distribution of the lesions," Dr. Vashi said. In both populations, a significant and statistically similar percentage of patients had unsuspected additional cancers in the opposite breast or in a separate quadrant from the known cancer in the same breast, necessitating a change in surgical management.

source: ARRS

Molecular Breast Imaging Is Superior to Ultrasound and Mammography for the Detection of Breast Cancer

NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Feb. 14, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Dilon Diagnostics -- According to a new study published in the American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR) in January 2012, Molecular Breast Imaging (MBI), also known as Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI), can detect cancers missed by the two most common breast imaging studies, mammography and ultrasound. BSGI had the highest overall sensitivity (91%) for breast cancer detection, significantly higher than that of mammography and ultrasound, 74% and 84% respectively. In addition, BSGI was more effective than ultrasound in contributing to patient management when the results of these studies changed the diagnosis provided by mammography.

In this multi-center study of 1042 patients at four institutions, BSGI had an outstanding overall sensitivity of 91% and negative predictive value (NPV) of 96%. The BSGI procedures were conducted with a high-resolution gamma camera, the Dilon 6800®. For patients who had adjunctive imaging procedures with results discordant from those for mammography, BSGI provided higher diagnostic accuracy than ultrasound (77% vs 35%). The group of patients with indeterminate mammograms (BI-RADS 0) received the greatest benefit from use of BSGI. For the BI-RADS 0 patients, BSGI was significantly more likely to contribute to patient management than ultrasound, it was less likely to be negative in cancerous lesions and was less likely to be positive in benign lesions. Interestingly 85% of the patients included in this study had dense breast tissue.

source: MarketWatch

Capital Health Will be First in U.S. to Offer GE Molecular Breast Imaging

HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP, N.J. & WAUKESHA, Wis., Jan 30, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Capital Health and GE Healthcare announced today the first Discovery* NM 750b was installed at Capital Health's New Jersey Hopewell medical center. Capital Health is a central New Jersey region leader in advanced medicine, with significant investments in advanced technologies and its medical staff.

"We are very pleased to offer women in our community this new, highly sophisticated, test that can help detect breast cancer at its earliest stages, which, as we all know, can be critical to the success of treatment," said Al Maghazehe, president and CEO of Capital Health. "We remain committed to bringing patients in this region the latest technological advances to enhance their healthcare options."

"This innovative technology overcomes some of the challenges we currently face with breast cancer detection, particularly in women with dense breast tissue, and allows us to offer our patients improved medical care," said Dr. Yaakov Applbaum, medical director of the Radiology Department at Capital Health. "It will also be useful in the early detection of breast cancer in women who are at a high risk for the disease."

source: Mrket Watch

First Naviscan PET Scanners Installed in Europe

Positron Emission Mammography Now Available to Women in Germany and Turkey

SAN DIEGO, CA, Jan 25, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Naviscan PET scanners performing Positron Emission Mammography (PEM) have been installed in two prestigious European centers: Radiologie und Nuklearmedizin in Ludwigshafen, Germany, and Medica in Istanbul, Turkey. Capitalizing on Naviscan's distribution in 13 European countries, these mark the first installations of a backlog of orders in the European market.

"The high resolution imaging of PEM at 1.6 mm enables us to detect breast cancer, and has even shown us unexpected areas of breast cancer multifocality in both breasts as well as axillary lymph node metastasis which were otherwise undetectable on the mammogram," said Dr. Frank H.H. Mueller, Radiologist, Nuclear Medicine physician and Chairman of PET e.V Germany, a registered voluntary organization of PET users in Germany. "The possibility of biopsy immediately after the initial PEM examination is revolutionary and will provide answers to all referring physician questions."

PEM imaging shows the location as well as the metabolic phase of a lesion. This information is critical in determining whether a lesion is malignant and influences the course of treatment by providing an ability to distinguish between benign and malignant lesions, what researchers term "specificity." Recent studies have demonstrated that PEM has similar sensitivity and higher specificity than breast MRI. The scanner is the only FDA-cleared, CE-certified 3D Molecular Breast Imaging (MBI) device on the market with biopsy-guidance.

source: Market Wire

Intrinsic Imaging Awarded Important Clinical Trial for the Evaluation of Breast Cancer

Intrinsic Imaging, an ISO 9001:2008 certified medical imaging core lab providing clinical image management and radiological review services in support of pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device and clinical research organizations, announces today that it was recently awarded an important clinical trial for the evaluation of breast cancer.

Over the duration of this clinical trial, Intrinsic Imaging will provide its wealth of breast imaging and clinical trial expertise, as well as provide its team of over 60 subspecialized radiologists, to evaluate the product's clinical safety and effectiveness. This trial, which will be managed from Intrinsic Imaging's Boston and San Antonio locations, consists of nearly 3,000 reviews.

"Intrinsic Imaging's board-certified, breast imaging radiologists currently manage over 150,000 breast related images annually and are responsible for the full complement of imaging and intervention as it relates to the evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis and progression of breast disease," said Richard Benedikt, M.D., MBA, Medical Director, Breast Imaging at Intrinsic Imaging.

source: Intrinsic Imaging

Mammography Study in BMJ Flawed: Discredited Data Used

Newswise — Discredited and obsolete data used in Raftery and Chorozoglou, published Dec. 8 in the British Medical Journal, underestimated lives saved by mammography screening by half. The authors' comparison of inconvenience and anxiety of false positives to breast cancer deaths is also questionable.

“The estimated 15 percent reduction in breast cancer deaths used in this study is the same used in 2009 by the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force. That estimate has been discredited by a series of large randomized control trials and other data that prove the benefit is at least twice that,” said Barbara Monsees, MD, chair of the American College of Radiology Breast Imaging Commission. “While anxiety over test results is real, most women simply need another mammogram or ultrasound exam to answer questions about their mammogram. A small number will undergo a benign breast biopsy based on an abnormal screening and subsequent evaluation. However, most women would balk at comparing the anxiety of this with that of dying from breast cancer.”

Recently, Tabar et al, a landmark study, published in Radiology, that involved 130,000 women followed over 29 years, re-confirmed that regular mammography screening reduced the breast cancer death rate by 30 percent.

source: Newswise

Breast cancer patients face increasing number of imaging visits before surgery

SAN ANTONIO, TX -- Breast cancer patients frequently undergo imaging like mammograms or ultrasounds between their first breast cancer-related doctor visit and surgery to remove the tumor. Evaluations of these scans help physicians understand a person's disease and determine the best course of action. In recent years, however, imaging has increased in dramatic and significant ways, say researchers from Fox Chase Cancer Center. More patients have repeat visits for imaging than they did 20 years ago, and single imaging appointments increasingly include multiple types of imaging.

The researchers, led by Richard Bleicher, M.D., surgical oncologist at Fox Chase, found that between 1992 and 2005, the percentage of patients who had multiple (2+) imaging visits nearly quadrupled. Bleicher says additional visits present a burden to patients, many of whom are elderly, but the stress may be alleviated through better coordination and evaluation by physicians. Bleicher will present his group's findings on Friday, December 9 at the 2011 CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

"The burden to the patient is increasing substantially," Bleicher says. "The number of days patients are having mammograms, MRIs, and ultrasounds is going up steadily year by year. They're having imaging done more frequently on separate dates during the preoperative interval than ever before. It's surprising."


source: EurekAlert

Breast-Mammogram Detector Mismatch Results in Excess Radiation

By: PATRICE WENDLING, Family Practice News Digital Network

CHICAGO – A mismatch between breast size and detector size during mammography resulted in significantly higher doses of radiation for women with large breasts in a study of 886 patients.

On average, women with large breasts screened on a small detector received almost 5 milligray (mGy) of radiation, which exceeds the American College of Radiology guidelines of 3-4 mGy or less for a standard two-view mammogram.

Women with large breasts screened on a small detector received an average of almost 5 mGy of radiation, which exceeds guidelines of 3-4 mGy or less for a standard two-view mammogram.

When a mismatch occurs, women with large breasts receive significantly higher doses of radiation than women with small breasts or their counterparts with large breasts correctly matched to a large detector, Dr. Cathy Wells said when presenting the award-winning study at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.

"Women with large breasts should be imaged with a large detector to avoid an unnecessary increase in radiation dose," she urged.

source: Family Practice News

New trials show land mine technology can give women fast, accurate breast cancer screening

Developed by Micrima, a spin-out from Bristol University, the revolutionary new screening technology – developed from a land mine detection project - now takes just eight seconds to provide a three-dimensional breast scan that provides results that are comparable with X-ray mammograms.

However, the MARIA (Multistatic Array processing for Radiowave Image Acquisition) system is not only safer and cheaper than current breast screening methods, it should also provide more reliable results in younger women who are overlooked for screening at present, with the additional benefit of being more comfortable for women undergoing the test.

The team behind Micrima is now raising new funding to help them achieve their goal of commercialising the targeted product – making breast cancer scans as normal as a dental or eye check-up.

Roy Johnson, Executive Chairman of Micrima, said "The new 3D breast screening platform under development aims to be safer, more convenient and more economically viable in a greater number of countries, in addition to providing a practical solution to screening women below the age of 50."

source: Medxpress.com

New Study Supports Mammography Screening at 40

CHICAGO, Nov. 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Women in their 40s with no family history of breast cancer are just as likely to develop invasive breast cancer as are women with a family history of the disease, according to a study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). These findings indicate that women in this age group would benefit from annual screening mammography.

The breast cancer screening guidelines issued by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force in November 2009 sparked a controversy among physicians, patient advocacy groups and the media. Much of the debate centered on the recommendation against routine annual mammography screening for women in their 40s.

"We believe this study demonstrates the importance of mammography screening for women in this age group, which is in opposition to the recommendations issued by the task force," said Stamatia V. Destounis, M.D., radiologist and managing partner of Elizabeth Wende Breast Care, LLC, in Rochester, N.Y.

For the study, Dr. Destounis and colleagues performed a retrospective review to identify the number and type of cancers diagnosed among women between the ages of 40 and 49—with and without a family history of breast cancer—who underwent screening mammography at Elizabeth Wende Breast Care from 2000 to 2010. The researchers then compared the number of cancers, incidence of invasive disease and lymph node metastases between the two groups.

source: PR NEWSWIRE

BSGI/MBI Proven to Be Equivalent to MRI in the Detection of Breast Cancer

NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Nov. 30, 2011 /CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM/ — Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI), also known as Molecular Breast Imaging (MBI), has been found to be equivalent to Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as an adjunct imaging modality in the diagnosis of breast cancer. BSGI/MBI may be especially useful for the evaluation of high-risk women or those with dense breasts. These findings will be presented in an abstract at the 2011 Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting to be held in Chicago, Nov. 27 through Dec. 2, 2011.

According to the study authors, MRI has become increasingly popular as an adjunct to mammography in the diagnosis of breast cancer. Despite its sensitivity in lesion detection, MRI is expensive and can cause patient discomfort. BSGI/MBI has similar sensitivity to MRI, costs less and is comfortable for the patient. This study aimed to directly compare the two modalities.

It was concluded that BSGI/MBI results led to further workup and detection of occult malignancies. In fact, negative MRIs without contradictory BSGI/MBI results would have led to six missed malignant tumors in this study. Also, the authors noted that as the study demonstrated BSGI/MBI’s equivalency to MRI in the diagnosis of breast cancer, that BSGI/MBI may be useful for the evaluation of high-risk women or those with dense breasts. For this study BSGI/MBI was conducted with a high-resolution gamma camera, the Dilon 6800®.

source: News.Gnom.es

Hologic Introduces Synthesized 2D Image Algorithm Designed to Eliminate the Need for a 2D Mammogram in a 2D plus 3D Tomosynthesis Exam

BEDFORD, Mass., November 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ - Hologic, Inc. (Hologic or the Company) (Nasdaq: HOLX), a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of premium diagnostic products, medical imaging systems and surgical products dedicated to serving the healthcare needs of women, announced today the commercial release of its C-View synthesized 2D image reconstruction algorithm that eliminates the need for a conventional 2D mammogram as a component of a 3D mammography( tomosynthesis breast cancer screening) exam. C-View software is approved for sale throughout the European Economic Area and in other countries recognizing the CE Mark.

For users of Hologic's 2D plus 3D tomosynthesis breast cancer screening system, C-View software creates a 2D image from a single tomosynthesis scan and eliminates the need for the acquisition of additional 2D exposures.

Dr. Stephen Rose, a board certified radiologist with Houston Breast Imaging, one of the first U.S. radiologists to adopt breast tomosynthesis, stated "Hologic's synthesized 2D image reconstruction algorithm is very impressive. C-View provides the information contained in a conventional 2D mammogram without the need for additional exposures while maintaining the superior clinical performance of Hologic's combo-mode (2D plus 3D) imaging."

source: Hologic

CoActiv Medical and PenRad Announce Sales Alliance to Provide Integrated Mammography Image and Information Management

RIDGEFIELD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CoActiv Medical announces a sales alliance with PenRad for the delivery of an advanced, integrated image and information management solution for mammography. The new relationship will enable both companies to deliver a seamlessly integrated solution combining CoActiv EXAM-PACS® and CoActiv EXAM-VAULT® Archiving with the complete suite of PenRad Mammography Information System Modules, enabling breast centers to reap the many benefits of a complete, seamlessly integrated mammography system.

CoActiv has been a leader in PACS and cloud-based image and data storage since 2003. In recent years, the company’s technology has been installed at a large and rapidly growing number of advanced mammography sites, where it supports FFDM, dedicated breast specific gamma imaging (BSGI) and more recently DICOM standard breast Tomosynthesis exams. Its state-of-the-art EXAM-VAULT Quad-Redundant cloud-based archiving stores tens of millions of breast images in a full range of modalities, as well as the complete spectrum of other radiology, cardiology, orthopedic and other imaging studies. CoActiv also supports image viewing on a full range of today’s portable devices, including the iPhone, iPad, Android and Kindle Fire.

source: Coactiv Medical

U-Systems Hosts Second "Innovators in Breast Ultrasound Screening" Webcast Focusing on New Approaches to Breast Cancer Screening

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Oct 28, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- U-Systems, the leader in automated breast ultrasound (ABUS) technology, today announced another in their series of "Innovators in Breast Ultrasound Screening," webcasts, focusing on progressive approaches to breast cancer screening. The live interactive web-broadcast is scheduled for Tuesday, November 1st at 5pm PST (8pm EST). Registration information is available at www.BreastUltrasoundScreening.com .

The second module in a series of educational tools is intended for radiologists and other healthcare providers involved in the screening and management of patients with breast cancer, as well as technologists involved in the acquisition of images. The webinar will highlight how leading innovators in breast imaging are applying new 3D technology aimed at improving patient outcomes and expanding their clinical practice. The live course will be recorded and be available at www.BreastUltrasoundScreening.com after November 7th.

Educational content features guidance on risk based breast cancer screening, identifying women who would benefit from adjunctive breast screening and why; and review of the clinical data supporting the use of automated 3D ultrasound for women with dense breast tissue. Participants will be able to ask questions and discuss with these early adopters how they are increasing their detection rates of breast cancer in women with dense breasts.

source= Market Wire

Latest Clinical Evidence Supports Promising Outlook For Low-Dose Molecular Breast Imaging (MBI)

The possibility of low-dose Molecular Breast Imaging (MBI) looks promising according to the most recent clinical evidence revealed this past month at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr. Marcela Bohm-Velez and her colleagues from Associates in Pittsburgh, Pa., shared preliminary results from a prospective study on low-dose MBI, specifically Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI), at the SNM Breast Cancer Imaging: State of the Art 2011. Their results suggest it may be possible to reduce the radiation dose patients receive from a BSGI procedure by up to 60 percent.

The tracer used in this procedure, Technetium Tc99m Sestamibi (MIBI), has commonly been used in cardiac studies for years and was cleared by the FDA in the mid-1990s for diagnostic breast imaging. The recommended dose (20 - 30 mCi) was established using an older, larger, less sensitive whole body imaging system. Newer breast-optimized imaging systems have an inherently higher photon sensitivity that may allow a lesser dose to be used.

source: Dilon Diagnostics

Matakina and PenRad Sign Letter of Intent to Display Volpara™ Volumetric Breast Density Results on Mammography Review Station

For Use with Digital Mammography, Volpara is Designed to Assist Radiologists by Objectively and Automatically Assessing a Women's Breast Tissue Density

LAS VEGAS, March 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Matakina International, Limited of New Zealand and PenRad Technologies, Inc., a leader in medical image and information management, today announced that the companies have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to use the PenRad Mammography Information System (MIS) to display the Volpara™ breast imaging software. The announcement was made from the National Consortium of Breast Center's (NCBC) 21st Annual National Interdisciplinary Breast Center Conference.

Offering radiologists a reliable and cost-effective tool to automatically generate objective volumetric breast density values, the FDA-cleared Volpara breast imaging software computes volumetric breast tissue density from digital screening mammograms. Volpara software assists radiologists by providing objective, automatic and robust measurement of volumetric breast tissue density and is currently available for Hologic and GE digital mammography systems with validation of integration with other systems underway.

source: PR Newswire

New Technologies Open the Door for Low Dose Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI) / Molecular Breast Imaging (MBI)

LAS VEGAS, March 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- A new study by Craig Thiessen, M.D., Director of Radiology for West Houston Radiology L.L.P. and North Cypress Medical Center in Houston, presented this week at the National Consortium of Breast Centers Annual Meeting, found the improved photon sensitivity of new detector technologies such as PSPMTs and CZT should be capable of reducing the radiation dose patient receive from BSGI/MBI studies by 75%. However, low dose imaging is currently an off-label use of the radiopharmaceutical, and there are several prospective patient studies underway to validate the clinical feasibility of low dose imaging.

BSGI/MBI is a molecular imaging tool for detecting early stage breast cancer, particularly for women who are at increased risk for the disease or have dense breast tissue. BSGI/MBI utilizes a radiopharmaceutical to visualize metabolic activity, revealing highly active areas that may be indicative of disease. A primary benefit of BSGI/MBI is that the exam provides a physiological map complementary to the anatomical map produced by mammography, and its ability to detect cancer is not affected by dense breast tissue as mammograms often are. It is also especially useful when mammographic or ultrasonic imaging studies are normal or discordant in the presence of clinical signs and symptoms.

Dr. Thiessen, a nuclear medicine specialist and breast imager, said that "BSGI/MBI- as with PET imaging, shows that molecular imaging is more advantageous in conjunction with standard anatomical evaluation of the body, and specifically the breast. Mammography, ultrasound and MRI look at various structures and patterns, whereas BSGI/MBI looks at the breast on a cellular level to help determine the presence or absence of disease."

source: Dilon

For Use with Digital Mammography, Volpara is Designed to Assist Radiologists by Objectively and Automatically Assessing a Women's Breast Tissue Density

LAS VEGAS, March 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Matakina International, Limited of New Zealand and PenRad Technologies, Inc., a leader in medical image and information management, today announced that the companies have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to use the PenRad Mammography Information System (MIS) to display the Volpara™ breast imaging software. The announcement was made from the National Consortium of Breast Center's (NCBC) 21st Annual National Interdisciplinary Breast Center Conference.

Offering radiologists a reliable and cost-effective tool to automatically generate objective volumetric breast density values, the FDA-cleared Volpara breast imaging software computes volumetric breast tissue density from digital screening mammograms. Volpara software assists radiologists by providing objective, automatic and robust measurement of volumetric breast tissue density and is currently available for Hologic and GE digital mammography systems with validation of integration with other systems underway.

source: PR Newswire