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.

Region Skåne and Sectra sign six-year agreement

Region Skåne, one of Sweden's largest care providers, has signed a six-year agreement with IT and medical technology company Sectra.

4 Jun 2014

Screening helped prevent nearly half a million colorectal cancer cases in the U.S.

An estimated half a million cancers were prevented by colorectal cancer screening in the United States from 1976 to 2009, report researchers from the Cancer Outcomes, Public Policy, and Effectiveness Research Center at Yale Cancer Center.

4 Jun 2014

MRI detects invasive breast tumours at very early stages in survivors of childhood Hodgkin lymphoma

The largest clinical study to evaluate breast cancer screening of female survivors of childhood Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), who are at increased risk because they received chest radiation, shows that magnetic-resonance imaging (MRI) detected invasive breast tumours at very early stages, when cure rates are expected to be excellent.

29 May 2014

Study: Providing better access to health care may lead to overuse of mammograms for women

Researchers have concluded that providing better access to health care may lead to the overuse of mammograms for women who regularly see a primary care physician and who have a limited life expectancy.

28 May 2014

New X-ray phase-contrast mammography for breast investigations

Phase contrast X-ray imaging has enabled researchers at ETH Zurich, the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) and the Kantonsspital Baden to perform mammographic imaging that allows greater precision in the assessment of breast cancer and its precursors.

15 May 2014

Women who experience early menopause may have higher rate of heart failure

Women who go through menopause early-at ages 40 to 45-have a higher rate of heart failure, according to a new study published online today in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS).

14 May 2014

Breast tomosynthesis after mammography screening may lessen use of biopsies, ultrasound

Breast tomosynthesis in the diagnostic workup for one- or two-view focal asymmetry detected at screening mammography resulted in less use of ultrasound, fewer biopsies, and higher positive predictive value for cancer than when diagnostic exams involved only 2D mammography, according to a study conducted at the University of Virginia.

8 May 2014

Misinformation about radiation exposure may result in avoidance of screening mammography

Misinformation and misunderstanding about the risks associated with ionizing radiation create heightened public concern and fear, and may result in avoidance of screening mammography that can detect early cancers.

8 May 2014

Research roundup: Compounding pharmacies; marketplace details; changes in insurance coverage

Outraged over a 2012 fungal meningitis outbreak traced back to Framingham, Massachusetts-based drug compounder New England Compounding Center (NECC) that left sixty-four people dead and more than 700 sickened, Congress passed the Compounding Quality Act .

5 May 2014

Research roundup: Structural concerns in ACOs; public's view of mandated contraception coverage

The Medicare Accountable Care Organization (ACO) programs reward participating health care provider groups that achieve slower spending growth and high quality of care.

26 Apr 2014

Anxiety experienced with false-positive mammogram does not negatively impact woman's well-being

Dartmouth researchers have found that the anxiety experienced with a false-positive mammogram is temporary and does not negatively impact a woman's overall well-being. Their findings are reported in "Consequences of False-Positive Screening Mammograms," which was published online in the April 21, 2014 JAMA Internal Medicine.

23 Apr 2014

Northern Ireland expands PACS contract with Sectra to include digital breast imaging

The department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in Northern Ireland has expanded its PACS contract with Sectra, to include digital breast imaging.

22 Apr 2014

ACR, SBI oppose NEJM article on ending breast cancer screening programs

The American College of Radiology (ACR) and Society of Breast Imaging (SBI) agree with statements by Andorno and Jüni, in their recent article published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), that women need clear information with which to discuss mammography with their doctor.

22 Apr 2014

Viewpoints: Obamacare still has more challenges; GOP needs to help make law work; census change is not Obama's decision

The first open enrollment period under the Affordable Care Act ended this week with roughly 7.5 million people obtaining policies through the new state insurance exchanges, including more than 1.3 million at Covered California.

18 Apr 2014

EventusDx completes $2.72M financing to support development, commercialization of Octava breast cancer tests

Eventus Diagnostics, Inc. today announced completion of a $2.72 million financing. The financing was led by a new family office private investor, and existing investors also participated. Proceeds of the financing will mostly be used to support the continued development and commercialization of the company's Octava breast cancer tests.

15 Apr 2014

Research roundup: Mental health parity; nurses' workload; can restaurants reduce portion size?

Historically, health insurance covered mental health care differently than other medical care. Recent laws have begun bringing them into balance. ... Congress passed the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) in 2008. ... the MHPAEA applied to large group health plans, both fully and self-insured, and included a cost exemption.

7 Apr 2014

Full-field digital mammography associated with lower recall and biopsy rates, says study

Population-based screening with full-field digital mammography (FFDM) is associated with lower recall and biopsy rates than screen film mammography (SFM), suggesting that FFDM may reduce the number of diagnostic workups and biopsies that do not lead to diagnosis of breast cancer, according to a new study published online in the journal Radiology.

1 Apr 2014

iCAD prices underwritten public offering of 2,400,000 shares of common stock

iCAD, Inc. ("iCAD"), an industry-leading provider of advanced image analysis, workflow solutions and radiation therapy solutions for the early identification and treatment of cancer, today announced it has priced a registered firm commitment underwritten public offering of 2,400,000 shares of its common stock at a price to public of $11.00 per share.

12 Mar 2014

3D mammography now available at Lenox Hill Radiology

Lenox Hill Radiology, a wholly owned subsidiary of RadNet, Inc., a national leader in providing high-quality, cost-effective diagnostic imaging services through a network of owned and operated outpatient imaging centers, announces that 3D mammography, the latest innovation in breast cancer screening, is now available at its 79th Street location on the Upper West Side.

10 Mar 2014

iCAD total revenue for Q4 2013 increases 16.8% to $9.1 million

iCAD, Inc., an industry-leading provider of advanced image analysis, workflow solutions and radiation therapy for the early identification and treatment of cancer, today reported financial results for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2013.

19 Feb 2014