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 3-D digital mammography could improve accuracy of breast cancer screening

A new three-dimensional (3-D) digital mammography technique has the potential to significantly improve the accuracy of breast cancer screening, according to a study published in Radiology.

14 Nov 2012

SCCA to raise awareness about importance of lung cancer screening

Lung cancer is the No. 1 cause of cancer deaths in the United States, despite the fact it is largely preventable. For people at high risk of developing lung cancer, such as current or former longtime smokers, screening for the disease with low-dose CT scans is now a viable option that has been shown to significantly reduce mortality rates. In conjunction with National Lung Cancer Awareness Month, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA) wants to raise awareness about the importance of prevention and early detection for at-risk populations.

9 Nov 2012

International Day of Radiology marks 117th anniversary of X-ray discovery

International Day of Radiology — November 8, 2012 — marks the 117th anniversary of the discovery of the X-ray and the tremendous advances in patient care made possible by radiation therapy and medical imaging exams, such as MRI and CT scans. It is also a reminder that Congress needs to pass the Diagnostic Imaging Services Access Protection Act (H.R. 3269/ S. 2347) and halt drastic cuts in Medicare funding for imaging scans. This vital legislation would preserve ready access to lifesaving imaging care and may help reduce harm to seniors already resulting from cutbacks.

8 Nov 2012

Women in disadvantaged neighborhoods less likely to live near mammography facility

Women in socioeconomically disadvantaged and less affluent areas of Chicago were less likely to live near a mammography facility with various aspects of care compared with women in less socioeconomically disadvantaged and more affluent areas.

30 Oct 2012

Low-dose radiation PCT developed for breast screening

US researchers have developed a high-resolution, low-dose phase contrast X-ray tomography for diagnosis of breast cancers that delivers a 74% reduced radiation dose compared with conventional PCT.

29 Oct 2012

Scientists develop new breast cancer screening method with less radiation

Scientists have developed a way to produce three-dimensional X-ray images of the breast at a radiation dose that is lower than the 2D radiography methods used in clinics today. The new method enables the production of 3D diagnostic computed tomography (CT) images with a spatial resolution 2-3 times higher than present hospital scanners, but with a radiation dose that is about 25 times lower.

25 Oct 2012

Combination of phase contrast tomography and EST can produce high-quality 3D breast images

Like cleaning the lenses of a foggy pair of glasses, scientists are now able to use a technique developed by UCLA researchers and their European colleagues to produce three-dimensional images of breast tissue that are two to three times sharper than those made using current CT scanners at hospitals. The technique also uses a lower dose of X-ray radiation than a mammogram.

23 Oct 2012

Ultrasound superior to mammography in evaluating women with breast cancer symptoms

The largest analysis to date comparing ultrasound and mammography to evaluate women ages 30 to 39 with symptoms of possible breast cancer concludes that ultrasound is a superior diagnostic tool and that U.S. clinical practice guidelines, which currently recommend mammography as the first evaluation in these women, should be reconsidered.

22 Oct 2012

Breast cancer… do you know who diagnoses you?

Australian women have a 1 in 9 lifetime risk of developing breast cancer and 1 in every 100 breast cancers occurs in men. In 2012, it is estimated that 14,610 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, making it the most common cancer affecting women in Australia. However, despite this, few people realise that pathologists arguably play the most important role in the detection and treatment of breast cancer.

16 Oct 2012

Dana-Farber expert offers tips to reduce risk of breast cancer

According to the American Cancer Society, about one in eight women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. This year, nearly 40,000 women in the United States will die from the disease.

12 Oct 2012

GW professor to develop blood test for early detection of breast cancer

Today, patients with precancerous lesions, or early-stage breast cancer are usually diagnosed after a mammography screening. This method of detection can lead to false-positives and overtreatment, since mammography cannot determine whether pre-cancerous cells will actually turn into breast cancer. This may all change after Sidney Fu, M.D., professor of medicine at the George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS), completes his study of early breast cancer detection using novel small RNA (microRNA or miRNA) biomarkers.

5 Oct 2012

Digital mammography boosts detection of life-threatening breast cancer

New research from the Netherlands shows that the switch from screen film mammography (SFM) to digital mammography (DM) in large, population-based breast cancer screening programs improves the detection of life-threatening cancer without significantly increasing detection of clinically insignificant disease. Results of the study are published online in the journal Radiology.

3 Oct 2012

State highlights: Free Calif. health care clinic a big draw; New Calif. law could mean mammogram alternatives

Many of the 4,800 people seeking care at the annual massive free clinic this weekend will become eligible for health insurance in 2014 when the national law takes effect. Organizers said raising awareness about the health care changes is crucial.

29 Sep 2012

New optical imaging technology could aid in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment

New optical imaging technology developed at Tufts University School of Engineering could give doctors new ways to both identify breast cancer and monitor individual patients' response to initial treatment of the disease.

27 Sep 2012

AACR Conference on The Science of Cancer Health Disparities to be held from Oct. 27-30

The Fifth AACR Conference on The Science of Cancer Health Disparities will gather scientists, survivors and patient advocates to share the latest research on access to care, treatment and survival in minority populations.

26 Sep 2012

Lifestyle changes can play a considerable role in influencing risk of cancer later in life

Lifestyle changes can play a considerable role in influencing the risk of developing cancer later in life. The key negative factors include smoking, lack of exercise and being overweight.

26 Sep 2012

Regular mammography screening can help narrow racial gaps in breast cancer outcomes

Regular mammography screening can help narrow the breast cancer gap between black and white women, according to a retrospective study published in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment in August.

26 Sep 2012

Simple survey can effectively identify women with ovarian cancer symptoms

A simple three-question paper-and-pencil survey, given to women in the doctor's office in less than two minutes, can effectively identify those who are experiencing symptoms that may indicate ovarian cancer, according to a study by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

24 Sep 2012

U-Systems receives FDA approval for somo-v ABUS

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved the first ultrasound device for use in combination with a standard mammography in women with dense breast tissue who have a negative mammogram and no symptoms of breast cancer.

19 Sep 2012

Harris Health System celebrates completion of Smith Clinic

On Sept. 12, Harris Health System celebrated the completion of Smith Clinic, the system's first outpatient specialty facility. The new facility enhances and expands specialty care for patients formerly seen at hospital-based clinics located at Ben Taub Hospital.

18 Sep 2012

Mammography News and Research

Further Reading

New 3-D digital mammography could improve accuracy of breast cancer screening

SCCA to raise awareness about importance of lung cancer screening

International Day of Radiology marks 117th anniversary of X-ray discovery

Women in disadvantaged neighborhoods less likely to live near mammography facility

Low-dose radiation PCT developed for breast screening

Scientists develop new breast cancer screening method with less radiation

Combination of phase contrast tomography and EST can produce high-quality 3D breast images

Ultrasound superior to mammography in evaluating women with breast cancer symptoms

Breast cancer… do you know who diagnoses you?

Dana-Farber expert offers tips to reduce risk of breast cancer

GW professor to develop blood test for early detection of breast cancer

Digital mammography boosts detection of life-threatening breast cancer

State highlights: Free Calif. health care clinic a big draw; New Calif. law could mean mammogram alternatives

New optical imaging technology could aid in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment

AACR Conference on The Science of Cancer Health Disparities to be held from Oct. 27-30

Lifestyle changes can play a considerable role in influencing risk of cancer later in life

Regular mammography screening can help narrow racial gaps in breast cancer outcomes

Simple survey can effectively identify women with ovarian cancer symptoms

U-Systems receives FDA approval for somo-v ABUS

Harris Health System celebrates completion of Smith Clinic

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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