Mammography News and Research

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A mammogram is a safe test used to look for any problems with a woman's breasts. The test uses a special, low-dose x-ray machine to take pictures of both breasts. The results are recorded on x-ray film or directly onto a computer for a radiologist to examine.

Mammograms allow the doctor to have a closer look for breast lumps and changes in breast tissue. They can show small lumps or growths that a doctor or woman may not be able to feel when doing a clinical breast exam. "Mammography" is the best screening tool that doctors have for finding breast cancer.

If a lump is found, your doctor may order other tests, such as ultrasound or a biopsy--a test where a small amount of tissue is taken from the lump and area around the lump. The tissue is sent to a lab to look for cancer or changes that may mean cancer is likely to develop. Breast lumps or growths can be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer). Finding breast cancer early means that a woman has a better chance of surviving the disease. There are also more choices for treatment when breast cancer is found early.

Medical device report provides key data, information and analysis on diagnostic imaging market

Global Markets Direct’s medical device report: “The Future of the Diagnostic Imaging Market to 2015” report provides key data, information and analysis on the global diagnostic imaging market. The report provides market landscape, competitive landscape and market trends information on six market categories including computed tomography systems, mammography equipment, MRI systems, nuclear imaging equipment, ultrasound systems and x-ray systems.

1 Sep 2009

Sectra signs six-year partnership agreement with Curato

Sectra, the market leader in Scandinavia for managing radiology images and patient information systems (RIS/PACS), and Norwegian company Curato, the Nordic region’s largest supplier of radiology examinations, have signed a six-year partnership agreement for Sectra’s products and services. The order value amounts to approximately SEK 100 million.

31 Aug 2009

Does fetal fibronectin testing change patient management in women at risk of preterm labour?

Hologic, Inc. has announced the publication of the first of its kind study evaluating the impact of fetal fibronectin (fFN) testing among both symptomatic and asymptomatic pregnant women at risk for preterm birth. The study, "Does fetal fibronectin testing change patient management in women at risk of preterm labour?" by researchers at King's College, London, England appears in the on-line version of the European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology.

20 Aug 2009

Most people overestimate the life-saving benefits of breast and prostate cancer screening

A public survey conducted in Europe found that the vast majority of people overestimate the life-saving benefits of breast and prostate cancer screening, according to a new study published online August 12 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

12 Aug 2009

Understanding emotional reactions for negative services

Service quality beliefs are usually positively related to customer satisfaction - the higher the perceived service quality, the higher the customer's satisfaction. However, an article published in the August issue of the Journal of Service Research finds this relationship may be more complicated in "negative service environments" (i.e., services that consumers would prefer not to have to use), such as health screening, diagnostic tests, or even auto repair.

9 Aug 2009

Digital mammography plus digital breast tomosynthesis may lower patient recall rates

Nationally, about ten percent of women in the US are recalled for a second mammogram after an abnormality is detected on the first one - for most women this can be very stressful.

6 Aug 2009

University of Illinois at Chicago awarded $7.2 million to eliminate health disparities

The University of Illinois at Chicago has been awarded a $7.2 million federal grant to establish the UIC Center of Excellence in Eliminating Health Disparities.

4 Aug 2009

Will emphasis on prevention bring health costs down?

If there is one thing that both parties can agree on in the health overhaul debate, it’s the need to build a health system that promotes prevention rather than just manages disease.

4 Aug 2009

Digital mammography increases cancer detection rates

The use of digital mammography equipment alone is responsible for an increased number of breast cancers detected at a community-based mammography facility, according to a study performed at San Luis Diagnostic Center in San Luis Obispo, CA.

3 Aug 2009

Economy squeezing access to health care

As unemployment rises, many Florida women are "turning to federally subsidized mammograms and pap smears, and county health officials are worried they could be overwhelmed," The Orlando Sentinel reports.

15 Jul 2009

Dramatic drop in deaths from most common cancers

The death toll from three of the UK's most common cancers has dropped to its lowest level for almost 40 years* - according to new figures released by Cancer Research UK.

12 Jul 2009

Dilon Technologies delivers enhanced imaging capabilities

Dilon Technologies, Inc., the leader in molecular breast imaging, today announced the release of the newest Dilon 6800 Software update including enhancements for both breast and general nuclear medicine applications image processing. The new software functionalities complement the Slant15 Collimator for breast imaging and the Low Energy High-Resolution (LEHR) Collimator for general nuclear medicine applications, both released earlier this year as purchase options for the Dilon 6800 gamma camera.

16 Jun 2009

New insights into locally advanced breast cancer

Scientists are reporting two findings that could influence the way researchers screen for, treat and assess prognosis for women with locally advanced breast cancer, an aggressive form of the disease. One finding offers a critical message regarding treatment strategy, they say.

2 Jun 2009

Taking a break from hormones doesn't improve mammograms

Some women take a short break from using postmenopausal hormone therapy before getting their breasts screened for cancer with mammography. They hope to lower their risk of being called back afterward for unnecessary extra breast imaging. But taking a short break from hormones doesn't actually work for this purpose, according to the first large-scale randomized controlled trial to address the question. The READ (Radiological Evaluation and Breast Density) trial of more than 1,700 Group Health women is in the June 2, 2009 Annals of Internal Medicine.

1 Jun 2009

DASH diet to lower blood pressure also reduces women's risk of heart failure

The DASH diet was initially developed to help patients lower their blood pressure, but a large study led by investigators at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) demonstrates that women who followed the diet also significantly reduced their risk of developing heart failure.

12 May 2009

3T MRI detects significant number of lesions not found 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.

5 May 2009

Amount of breast water could be linked to the risk of breast cancer

A unique mother-daughter study that used magnetic resonance to measure breast density in younger women shows that percent of breast water could be linked to the risk of breast cancer in middle age and older.

29 Apr 2009

Second look ultrasound: Effective MRI correlate for identifying incidental breast lesions

A second look ultrasound of the breast, used in conjunction with MRI, allows radiologists to identify lesions not detected on conventional mammography and first look ultrasound; in some cases it allows radiologists to determine whether or not a lesion is malignant or benign, according to a study performed at the University of Rome La Sapienza in Rome, Italy.

23 Apr 2009

Media ignores health consequences of drink driving among celebrity DUI stories

The recent drinking and driving (DUI) arrests of celebrities - Paris Hilton, Nicole Ritchie, Michelle Rodriguez and Lindsay Lohan - yielded widespread news coverage, however, very little of it offered any public health context, according to a new report by researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health's Center for Injury Research and Policy.

22 Apr 2009

Large waist size tied to increased risk of heart failure in middle-aged and older populations

Adding to the growing evidence that a person's waist size is an important indicator of heart health, a study led by investigators at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) has found that larger waist circumference is associated with increased risk of heart failure in middle-aged and older populations of men and women.

12 Apr 2009