New test for breast tumors: Water ultrasound imaging seems as accurate as mammography

DETROIT – You're lying face down on a massage table, your breast encased in a water bath through an opening in the table. Tiny ports from a surrounding ring fire ultrasound waves. There are no X-rays. There is no pain. There is no holding still for 20 minutes or more.

And in the time it takes to finish reading this paragraph, you will have safely and cheaply completed a high-definition, 360-degree mammogram, courtesy of an ultrasound imaging machine in experimental stages at the Karmanos Cancer Institute. Its inventors think it will soon become the preferred method for detecting and monitoring breast tumors.

source: Dallas News

First Accredited CME Course on BSGI - the Molecular Breast Imaging Exam, Now Available to All Physicians

NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Sept. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- The Institute for AdvancedMedical Education in partnership with WebMedEd and Applied Radiology nowoffers an online CME course on Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI), amolecular breast imaging exam. The course is designed to educate physicians onthe utility of BSGI as a critical adjunct procedure to mammography, ultrasoundand MRI to help diagnose early stage breast cancers, particularly types thatcan be difficult to detect, such as DCIS and lobular carcinoma.

The program is accredited for Two (2) AMA/PRA CME Credits(TM) and isdivided into a five-module presentation. Dr. Margaret Bertrand with SolisBertrand Breast Center in Greensboro, NC presents an "Interpretation andComparison to Other Modalities" and Dr. Ward Parsons with The Rose BreastCenter in Houston, TX presents "A Molecular Imaging Complement To BreastDiagnostics: Technology and Clinical Indications." The online course alsoincludes several case presentations from each physician, as well as aninterview session covering some of the most talked about topics in molecularbreast imaging.

source: International Business Times

MBI better than mammography for dense breast tissue

There may be a more effective way to detect breast cancer in women with dense breasts, according to a study released Sunday.

Molecular breast imaging (MBI) detects three times as many breast tumours as mammography in high-risk women with dense breast tissue, researchers at the Breast Cancer Symposium in Washington said.

MBI is a relatively new screening method wherein patients are injected with a radioactive agent that is absorbed by breast tissue. Cancer cells absorb more of the agent than healthy cells. A specialized camera tracks the agent and can distinguish between healthy tissue and cancer tumours.

source: CTV.ca News

Radiation Medical Group Is First In USA To Offer New Breast Cancer Treatment Option

Radiation Medical Group, Inc. is the first center in the nation to use a new version of the SAVI applicator for radiation treatment of breast cancer, potentially expanding the number of women who will qualify for breast brachytherapy.

RMG is the first center to use the SAVI™ 6-1Mini applicator, which is designed for the delivery of radiation to small or hard-to-treat lumpectomy cavities. The new device makes a shorter, more convenient form of radiation therapy available to more women.

"We are proud to be the first center to offer this new SAVI applicator option," said Gina Mansy, M.D., a radiation oncologist at RMG. "We are committed to providing women with state-of-the-art technology and the latest treatment breakthroughs, to arm them in the fight against breast cancer."

source: Radiation Medical Group

Surveillance mammography after treatment for primary breast cancer

The National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment (NIHR HTA) programme has commissioned a new study to identify the most effective and efficient surveillance methods for women who have received treatment for primary breast cancer. There are 45,000 new cases in the UK each year and although the majority of women never experience a recurrence, it does return in approximately 25 per cent of women. The majority of these recurrences are found during the first three years after treatment.

It is generally accepted that early diagnosis is a key factor influencing survival from breast cancer, with an 81 per cent reduction in mortality compared with women who were identified with more advanced stages. A recurrence of breast cancer might be found either by physical examination or by mammography, a process which uses low-dose X-rays to examine the breast. There is, however, no general agreement as to the best way to monitor patients for recurrence or how often women should receive X-rays.

source: National Coordinating Centre for Health Technology Assessment

New Data On Breast Imaging Using Cardiolite(R) To Be Presented At ASCO Breast Cancer Symposium

Lantheus Medical Imaging, a worldwide leader in diagnostic imaging, announced that the company's leading imaging agent, Cardiolite® (Kit for the Preparation of Technetium Tc99m Sestamibi for Injection) will be featured in a new study on molecular breast imaging being presented on Sunday, September 7, 2008, at 7:00am -12:00pm (EDT) as part of the poster sessions (abstract #68) at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's 2008 Breast Cancer Symposium in Washington, DC.

"This promising new study on molecular breast imaging provides encouraging data for millions of women and families who are impacted by breast cancer and sheds light on potential new diagnostic approaches for finding tumors in women who have dense breast tissue, which can confound mammograms," stated Don Kiepert, president and chief executive officer of Lantheus Medical Imaging. "We are proud to supply the imaging agent for this important clinical effort. Breast cancer is a devastating disease and we recognize how important and valuable early detection is for women."

source: Lantheus Medical Imaging

Molecular Breast Imaging More Effective than Mammography at Detecting Cancer in High-Risk Women with Dense Breasts

In the largest study to date to compare a screening technique called molecular breast imaging (MBI) to mammography, researchers have shown that MBI can detect three times as many cancers in women who have dense breast patterns on their mammogram and are at increased risk of breast cancer.

Mammography is the current standard of care for breast cancer screening. However, it can be difficult to distinguish normal breast tissue from tumor tissue in women with dense breasts using mammography. As a consequence, women who have dense breasts as well as other breast cancer risk factors often need additional screening.

MBI is a relatively new screening method in which patients are injected with a short-living radioactive agent that is absorbed by breast tissue. This agent is tracked with a specialized camera that can distinguish healthy tissue from breast cancer tumors, as cancer cells absorb more of the radioactive agent
than healthy cells. MBI is currently available at a limited number of cancer centers, but its availability is growing. While more expensive than mammography, MBI is about one-fifth of the cost of breast MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).

source: ASCO

PresGar Implements RamSoft's Digital Mammography Software

Less than a year into the process, RamSoft, a leading developer of affordable healthcare information technology, has successfully helped PresGar, the nation's largest privately-owned medical imaging service company, establish a significant digital mammography presence at eight of its imaging centers.

The result has been increased efficiency among PresGar mammographers and technologists and substantial savings for the company. If things go as planned, a ninth center may soon join the mix, combining RamSoft's PowerServer PACS and Gateway Routers with PresGar's new digital mammography system.

source: Medical News Today

Manhattan Diagnostic Radiology First in New York City to Offer Positron Emission Mammography (PEM) Scanner From Naviscan

NEW YORK, Aug 13, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Manhattan Diagnostic Radiology announced today that it will be the first imaging facility in Manhattan to offer Positron Emission Mammography (PEM) in the fight against breast cancer. This installation will provide Manhattan Diagnostic Radiology an increased ability to image and diagnose early-stage breast cancers, positively impacting cancer management. The leading-edge technology provides unprecedented metabolic resolution down to 1.5 millimeters.

"We recently received prestigious designation as a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence from the American College of Radiology acknowledging our commitment to providing the highest level of breast care to our patients," said Craig H. Sherman, M.D., Senior Partner and Director of PET/CT imaging at Manhattan Diagnostic Radiology. "We have always sought out the very best in diagnostic imaging technology, and PEM will be the latest in a long list of firsts for our center. We expect that PEM will prove indispensable to effective breast cancer management for both our referring physicians and our patient population."

source:Naviscan

“Convenience” of Screening Mammography Facilities Plays Major Role in Patient Retention

Patients cite “convenience to home or work” as the main reason they changed mammography facilities, according to a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and The Barrett Center in Cincinnati, OH.

The study included 303 current mammography patients (“stayers”) and 117 patients who no longer received mammography at the university-based center (“leavers”), said Mary C. Mahoney, MD, lead author of the study.

The study showed that among the “leavers” 37% cited convenience to home or work as the reason for leaving the university-based site and choosing a new mammography provider. Other reasons for leaving the university-based site included difficulty scheduling appointments (15%); 14% of those who left the university-based center indicated that their current mammography provider was mandated by their insurance provider.

source: ARRS

iCAD Achieves Record-High Ratings in Mammography CAD User Satisfaction

iCAD, Inc. (Nasdaq: ICAD), an industry-leading provider of Computer-Aided Detection (CAD) solutions for the early detection of cancer, today announced that the Company has achieved record-high customer satisfaction ratings in the Mammography CAD market, according to the independent healthcare research group MD Buyline.

In MD Buyline’s User Satisfaction Report for the first two quarters of 2008, iCAD remains #1 in mammography CAD for user satisfaction in system performance, system reliability, installation/implementation, applications training, service response time and service repair quality compared to Hologic/R2. Additionally, iCAD has attained record-high customer service ratings in the categories of System Reliability, Service Repair Quality and overall service and quality.

source: iCAD

Lidocaine Gel Could Make Mammograms More Comfortable

Mammograms are not one of the Top 10 things women look forward to each year. In fact, they may be in the Bottom 10, or even the Bottom 3. While they don't compare to the pain of surgery or childbirth, mammograms are an uncomfortable procedure for most women, but one that is considered a necessary evil. It is easy for many women to wince at the first thought of getting their screening for breast cancer. But help may be a smear away.

A new study conducted shows that a numbing gel could ease the pain associated with getting a mammogram and may make women more likely to come back for subsequent screenings. The lead author of the study said that the gel might act as a simple secret weapon: "We now have something that we know reduces discomfort with screening mammography in women who expect higher discomfort—lidocaine gel."

source: Healthnews

Aurora(R) Breast MRI Society Debuts The Journal Of Breast MRI

North Andover, Mass. – The Aurora® Breast MRI Society, a rapidly growing group of dedicated breast radiologists committed to advancing the use of cutting-edge dedicated breast MRI technology, previewed the newly developed Aurora Breast MRI Society Global PACS Teaching Tool. The teaching tool was introduced before an audience of more than 100 radiology professionals in attendance at the second annual Aurora Breast MRI Society Meeting, recently held in Newport Beach, Calif.

“The establishment of the Aurora Breast MRI Society Global PACS Teaching Tool is incredibly exciting, as it will provide Society members an exclusive Internet-based community in which they are able to network with colleagues, share clinical knowledge and data, enhance professional development, and improve the management and treatment of breast disease,” said Kamilia F. Kozlowski, M.D., president, Aurora Breast MRI Society, and medical director/CEO and clinical breast radiologist, Knoxville Comprehensive Breast Center. “We are proud of the progress made in supporting our Society�s mission through the introduction of the Aurora Breast MRI Society Global PACS Teaching Tool and know that this will be a very valuable tool for all practitioners using it.”

source: Aurora Breast MRI Society

Scientist Presents New Breast Cancer Imaging Method

Flemming Forsberg, Ph.D., professor of Radiology at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, presents updated results on the effect of using subharmonic imaging (SHI) in determining a breast cancer diagnosis at the Fifth Era of Hope meeting in Baltimore, Maryland. SHI – a new breast cancer imaging technique – appears to improve the diagnosis of breast cancer relative to conventional ultrasound and mammography.

“With these recent findings, SHI could provide a major improvement to breast imaging and patient care,” said Dr. Forsberg.

source: EmaxHealth

Experimental Imaging System Helps Detect Breast Cancer

(HealthDay News) -- Researchers have devised a new breast-imaging technology that appears to be as accurate as MRI scans but several times cheaper.

The technique, called molecular breast imaging (MBI), is still in the early stages of development, the scientists added.

"We envision MBI being useful for women who are not served well by mammography, those who have mammographically dense breast tissue, and those at increased risk for breast cancer," said study author Carrie Beth Hruska, a research fellow at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. "We have been working on the technology for the last six years. However, there are a lot of technical challenges that have had to be overcome, so it's still in the very early stages for use in patients."

source: US News & World Report

Online Radiology Offers Telemammography Services

Riverside, CA (PRWEB) June 23, 2008 -- Jesse Salen, the VP of Sales and Technology at Online Radiology Medical Group, Inc., announced last week, telemammography services are now available to its patients. According to Mr. Salen, "We opted to expand our slate of services with the intention of contributing to improving survival rates among breast cancer patients."

It is widely known that early detection through mammography is the most effective method of improving survival rates for breast cancer, a leading cause of death among women. Telemammography is the electronic transmission of digitized mammograms and provides greater efficiency in the area of breast imaging and interpretation. It significantly improves breast cancer screening by delivering critical medical expertise that is both timely and accurate.


source: PR Web

Fujifilm Introduces Breast Imaging Diagnostic Workstation

Stamford, CT. - June 19, 2008 - Fujifilm Medical Systems USA, Inc. announced today that it is introducing the Breast Imaging Diagnostic Workstation (BIDW). Available for any U.S. facility that has implemented Full Field Digital Mammography (FFDM), the BIDW is being introduced specifically to complement Fujifilm’s Computed Radiography for Mammography (FCRm) solution and provide better workstation interpretation capabilities for facilities that may use another vendor’s PACS. Delivering full Synapse® PACS functionality, this new standalone workstation is designed to be a supplement to any facility’s existing PACS, and meet the market need for more clinically and operationally advanced systems to support breast imaging.

“As more and more facilities adopt digital mammography, there is an increased need for PACS that provide the specialized features and advanced technologies that are so vital to the interpretation of full field digital mammography exams,” explained Jim Morgan, Fujifilm’s Director of Marketing, Network Systems. “Synapse is an advanced PACS that is uniquely capable of providing the diagnostic and clinical tools that radiologists demand for FFDM. The Breast Imaging Diagnostic Workstation will now enable customers that might already have an existing PACS to benefit from full Synapse capabilities and additional features specifically designed for digital mammography when interpreting their FFDM studies.”

source: Fuji

STAMFORD, Conn., June 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Fujifilm Medical
Systems USA, Inc. announced today that it is introducing the
Breast Imaging Diagnostic Workstation (BIDW). Available
for any U.S. facility that has implemented Full
Field Digital Mammography (FFDM), the BIDW is being
introduced specifically to complement Fujifilm's Computed
Radiography for Mammography (FCRm) solution and
provide better workstation interpretation capabilities for facilities
that may use another vendor's PACS. Delivering full Synapse(R)
PACS functionality, this new standalone workstation is designed
to be a supplement to any facility's existing PACS, and meet the
market need for more clinically and operationally advanced
systems to support breast imaging.

"As more and more facilities adopt digital mammography, there
is an increased need for PACS that provide the specialized
features and advanced technologies that are so vital to the
interpretation of full field digital mammography exams,"
explained Jim Morgan, Fujifilm's Director of Network
Systems.
source": Earth Times

Women's Imaging Centre First In Louisiana To Deploy Advanced Diagnostic Imaging With The Aurora Dedicated Breast MRI

Aurora Imaging Technology Inc. announced that the Aurora® 1.5Tesla Dedicated Breast MRI System is immediately available to patients for the first time in Louisiana at the Women's Imaging Centre-Lafayette.

The Aurora System is the only Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared dedicated breast MRI system specifically designed for the detection, diagnosis and management of breast disease. The Women's Imaging Centre chose the Aurora System to service patients in Lafayette, La. and its surrounding parishes to offer advanced diagnostic imaging, and address the staggering breast cancer statistics in Louisiana.

source: Medical News Today

Mammography Facility Characteristics Associated With Accuracy Of Screening

Some characteristics of mammography facilities are associated with the accuracy of interpretation of screening mammograms, according to a study published online June 10 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Previous studies have suggested that patient characteristics, such as age, are associated with variations in the accuracy of screening mammograms. Similarly, characteristics of the radiologist who interprets the mammograms, such as his or her reading experience, are associated with variations in accuracy. The impact of the type of facility or its characteristics on mammogram accuracy was unknown, but the information could help identify better practices and better places to obtain a mammogram.

source: Medical News Today

Sectra MicroDose Mammography honored with 2008 Medical Design Excellence Award

The IT and medical-technology company Sectra has been honored with 2008 Medical Design Excellence Award for Sectra MicroDose Mammography™. The system features superior image quality, an ergonomic design combined with a unique photon-counting technology enabling the lowest radiation dose on the market.

The jury’s motivation was: “Sectra MicroDose Mammography with its ultra low-dose radiation output and elegant ergonomics clearly stood out with regard to both the criteria patient safety and ease-of use. Aesthetics, while not absolutely critical, is also important and the elegant European form factor was another positive.”

source: SECTRA

Canadian Breast Cancer Network Releases 2008 Breast Cancer Wait Times

WINNIPEG, June 5 /CNW/ - New data collected by the Canadian
Breast Cancer Network (CBCN) shows that not all Canadian
women are receiving equal access to breast cancer
treatment. The CBCN presented the 2008 Breast Cancer
Wait Time in Canada Report Card findings
today at the 5th World Conference on Breast Cancer in
Winnipeg. "This Report Card is a call to action for
concerned organizations and individuals to work
collaboratively to find solutions to breast cancer
issues," said Diana Ermel, president of the CBCN.
"Breast cancer wait times and accessibility to
medications must remain high on the public
agenda to improve access and quality of care."
While many jurisdictions are working on innovative
solutions to shorten wait times, there continue
to be significant gaps in the current standards of
care across the country. The Report Card provides
an overview of wait times for diagnosis and
treatment of breast cancer in Canada.

source: newswire.ca

Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI) Found to Be Highly Sensitive for Early Stage Breast Cancer

NEWPORT NEWS, Va., May 29 /PRNewswire/ -- According to an article in the June issue of Radiology, researchers at The George Washington University Medical Center in Washington, D.C. have shown that Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI) is highly sensitive in detecting the presence of cancer. The researchers determined that BSGI was a useful detection tool and that it was as sensitive as MRI for most cancers and perhaps more sensitive for ductal carcinoma in-situ, an early stage of breast cancer.

BSGI, molecular imaging of the breast utilizing a high-resolution, small-field-of-view gamma camera, is an increasingly utilized adjunct imaging modality for the diagnosis of breast cancer. Initial studies with this imaging technique report sensitivities similar to MRI with a higher specificity -- which is the ability of a test to show when disease is not present.

source: PRNewswire

Naviscan PET Systems and Rockville PET Imaging Partner to Bring a New Breast Imaging Technology to New York

SAN DIEGO, May 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Naviscan PET Systems, Inc., a privately held company that manufactures and develops high-resolution PET scanners, announced today the newest installation of the PEM Flex(TM) Solo II scanner at Rockville PET Imaging, P.C. in Rockville Centre, New York. This installation marks the beginning of a multi-unit deal between Naviscan and the operators of Rockville PET Imaging that will bring organ specific, molecular imaging technology to multiple centers throughout the New York state area.

"We are pleased and excited at the growing strategic relationship between Rockville PET Imaging and Naviscan PET Systems," said Paul J. Mirabella, Chairman and CEO of Naviscan. "Both of us believe that this leading-edge technology will significantly and positively influence the effective management of breast cancer patients. Moreover, this multi-unit order represents a highly visible commitment on the part of Rockville PET Imaging to provide differential, personalized healthcare and diagnostic services throughout the greater New York metropolitan area."

source: Yahoo Finance (press release)

MRI Use May Explain Part Of The Trend In Rising Mastectomies Say Mayo Researchers

The number of women undergoing mastectomy (total breast removal) for early-stage breast cancer has increased in the last three years at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. The increase follows a steady decline during the prior seven years.

Researchers say the reasons for this increase are unclear. But they have determined that women at Mayo Clinic who underwent diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) prior to surgery to treat early-stage breast cancer had a higher rate of mastectomy, compared to women who did not have an MRI.

source: Medical News Today