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.

New study examines potential impact of breast density notification legislation in U.S. women

Mammographically-dense breasts - those that show more breast and connective tissue versus fat in a mammogram image - are recognized as a risk factor for developing breast cancer and can also hamper an accurate reading of a mammogram. National legislation currently under consideration would require the disclosure of mammographic breast density information to women with dense breasts, as well as encourage the consideration of supplemental screening for those women.

15 Sep 2014

Scientists develop "electronic skin" for earlier identification of breast cancer

For detecting cancer, manual breast exams seem low-tech compared to other methods such as MRI. But scientists are now developing an "electronic skin" that "feels" and images small lumps that fingers can miss.

11 Sep 2014

FDA approves MGH’s digital mammography system

A digital mammography system developed based on concepts originally tested at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

4 Sep 2014

USPSTF lung cancer screening recommendations in high-risk Medicare beneficiaries is cost effective

Questions regarding effectiveness, infrastructure and cost effectiveness of low-dose computed tomography (CT) screening of those at high risk for lung cancer have now been answered. Medicare should rapidly provide full national coverage for these exams.

3 Sep 2014

Travel time to breast imaging services in United States varies dramatically by modality

Mammography, ultrasound, and MRI - or a combination of these examinations - are critical in detecting, diagnosing, and characterizing the extent of breast cancer.

2 Sep 2014

Agfa HealthCare’s digital radiography technologies selected by Summa Health System

Agfa HealthCare announced today that Summa Health System has selected the company's digital radiography technologies, including the DX-D Retrofit and DX-D 100 mobile DR systems, DX-M multi-plate CR, and CR 30-X single plate table top CR, in combination with an upgrade of Agfa HealthCare's patented MUSICA image processing software through Agfa HealthCare's Digital Radiography Upgrade Program.

26 Aug 2014

Findings may help policy makers address barriers to access to care

A recent study has found that in states with higher Medicaid payments for office visits, Medicaid beneficiaries were more likely to be screened for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer.

25 Aug 2014

Health insurance reimbursement may determine cancer screening rates

A study published today indicates that people living in American states that offer higher Medicaid payments for office visits are more likely to have been screened for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers than those in states giving lower levels of Medicaid support.

25 Aug 2014

Viewpoints: Threat to drug development; GOP's Obamacare criticism tempered; finding doctors for seniors

An invasive species has been introduced into the U.S. health innovation ecosystem, with a growing danger of permanent damage to the development of specialty drugs.

21 Aug 2014

Findings support regular mammography screening in women ages 75 and older

Mammography-detected breast cancer is associated with a shift to earlier stage diagnosis in older women, subsequently reducing the rate of more advanced, difficult-to-treat cases, according to a new study published online in the journal Radiology.

5 Aug 2014

Research roundup: ACA lawsuit primer; ACA strategies in 4 states; competitive plans for those eligible for Medicare and Medicaid

In 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the ACA, but that did not end attacks against the law. Since the decision in National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius, objecting parties have filed more than 100 cases in federal courts nationwide.

21 Jul 2014

Digital mammograms may not be better at diagnosing older women, study finds

The Yale review adds to the mixed report card on digital mammography, reports NPR. Meanwhile, big increases in vaccination prices are straining public health budgets and creating dilemmas for some doctors, finds The New York Times.

4 Jul 2014

Research roundup: Role of primary care in reducing readmissions; air transport for wounded soldiers; hospital prices

Follow-up with a primary care provider (PCP) in addition to the surgical team is routinely recommended to patients discharged after major surgery despite no clear evidence that it improves outcomes.

27 Jun 2014

New 3D mammography helps diagnose breast cancer quickly than ever before

Screening for and diagnosing breast cancer is quicker and more precise than ever before thanks to new three-dimensional (3D) mammography being used at the Herman & Walter Samuelson Breast Care Center at Northwest.

27 Jun 2014

First Edition: June 25, 2014

Today's headlines include a report about a recent analysis that finds new health plan enrollees are showing high rates of serious health conditions.

25 Jun 2014

Addition of tomosynthesis to digital mammography increases cancer detection rate

The addition of tomosynthesis, a 3-dimensional breast imaging technique, to digital mammography in more than 170,000 examinations was associated with a decrease in the proportion of patients called back for additional imaging and an increase in the cancer detection rate, according to a study in the June 25 issue of JAMA.

25 Jun 2014

3D mammography detects more invasive cancers, reduces call-back rates

3D Mammography finds significantly more invasive cancers and reduces unnecessary recalls, according to a large, retrospective study published in June 25 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

25 Jun 2014

Mammography screening with 3D DBT increases overall cancer detection rate

In community-based radiology practice, mammography screening with 3D digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) yielded lower recall rates, an increased overall cancer detection rate, and an increased detection rate for invasive cancer compared with 2D digital mammography (DM).

17 Jun 2014

Mammography has helped reduce late-stage breast cancer incidence by 37%

In the last 30 years, since mammography was introduced, late-stage breast cancer incidence has decreased by 37 percent, a new study from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center finds.

11 Jun 2014

VuCOMP receives FDA approval for M-Vu CAD for mammography version 3.1

VuCOMP, Inc., leading developer of advanced computer vision systems for the detection of breast cancer, announced today that it has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for M-Vu CAD for mammography version 3.1. Concurrently, VuCOMP is releasing an update to its CAD station which includes the ability to process additional standard screening views.

10 Jun 2014

Mammography News and Research

Further Reading

New study examines potential impact of breast density notification legislation in U.S. women

Scientists develop "electronic skin" for earlier identification of breast cancer

FDA approves MGH’s digital mammography system

USPSTF lung cancer screening recommendations in high-risk Medicare beneficiaries is cost effective

Travel time to breast imaging services in United States varies dramatically by modality

Agfa HealthCare’s digital radiography technologies selected by Summa Health System

Findings may help policy makers address barriers to access to care

Health insurance reimbursement may determine cancer screening rates

Viewpoints: Threat to drug development; GOP's Obamacare criticism tempered; finding doctors for seniors

Findings support regular mammography screening in women ages 75 and older

Research roundup: ACA lawsuit primer; ACA strategies in 4 states; competitive plans for those eligible for Medicare and Medicaid

Digital mammograms may not be better at diagnosing older women, study finds

Research roundup: Role of primary care in reducing readmissions; air transport for wounded soldiers; hospital prices

New 3D mammography helps diagnose breast cancer quickly than ever before

First Edition: June 25, 2014

Addition of tomosynthesis to digital mammography increases cancer detection rate

3D mammography detects more invasive cancers, reduces call-back rates

Mammography screening with 3D DBT increases overall cancer detection rate

Mammography has helped reduce late-stage breast cancer incidence by 37%

VuCOMP receives FDA approval for M-Vu CAD for mammography version 3.1

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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