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.

U-Systems completes $6.5 million funding round

U-Systems, Inc., the leader in automated breast ultrasound technology, announced today the completion of a $6.5 million funding round. The additional capital came exclusively from existing U-Systems investors and affiliates including iD SoftCapital Group, Lumira Capital, PIIH, Radius Ventures, and Sycamore Ventures.

9 May 2011

Mammogram appointments delayed by up to 148 days: NYC report

According to a report released by the NYC Comptroller, hospital closures and budget cuts in New York City have contributed to “dangerously long” wait times of nearly two months for diagnostic mammograms in the city.

5 May 2011

FDA clears Sectra's digital mammography system

Women in the US will now have the same opportunity as million of European women already have; to undergo mammography with significantly lower radiation dose. This is the result of FDA's clearance of the Swedish IT and medical technology company Sectra's digital mammography system, Sectra MicroDose Mammography.

4 May 2011

Tecnologie Avanzate, Naviscan sign deal to distribute PET scanner in Italy

Naviscan, Inc., the leader in 3D Molecular Breast Imaging, has entered into a distribution agreement with Tecnologie Avanzate s.r.l. to market and service Naviscan's high-resolution organ-specific PET scanner in Italy.

3 May 2011

USPSTF recommendations negatively impact yearly mammograms among 40-49 year old women

Two new studies reveal that the United States Preventative Services Task Force's recommendation to no longer screen women ages 40-49 for breast cancer using mammograms has begun to negatively affect the number of yearly mammograms performed in this age group and thus decrease the benefits of early detection.

2 May 2011

Mammography screening can benefit women under age 50

Screening mammography benefits women between 40 and 49 years of age, and excluding this population from annual exams under the revised Preventative Service Task Force mammography guidelines would negatively impact survival, according to research presented this week at the American Society of Breast Surgeons Annual Meeting.

30 Apr 2011

State roundup: Single-payer bill advances in Vt. Legislature

A unit of American International Group, the New York-based insurance giant, agreed to pay restitution and a fine totaling $760,000 for selling faulty health insurance products in Massachusetts, under a settlement reached with state Attorney General Martha Coakley.

27 Apr 2011

Epic Imaging receives 100% Mammography Quality Standards Act score

Epic Imaging recently received a 100 percent score on its yearly American College of Radiology Mammography Quality Standards Act inspection.

25 Apr 2011

New breast cancer projects receive $1.175 million from Komen Northeast Ohio

Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Northeast Ohio has announced it is contributing $1.175 million to 14 organizations throughout the area for projects supporting its promise to end breast cancer forever.

21 Apr 2011

Mount Sinai's new Dubin Breast Center to provide patients with seamless care

The new Dubin Breast Center of The Tisch Cancer Institute at Mount Sinai opened today, bringing a range of multidisciplinary services under one roof and marking a great leap forward in care of breast cancer patients throughout the region.

19 Apr 2011

Analysis calls for experimental evidence to determine best way to disclose information to patients

Giving patients data about the risks and benefits of a medical intervention is not always helpful and may even lead them to irrational decisions, according to an article in the Hastings Center Report. That finding calls into question whether it is essential to disclose quantitative data to patients to help them make informed decisions.

16 Apr 2011

'Every woman should know her breast density'

D.E.N.S.E. CA, breast cancer survivors advocating for breast density awareness, and Are You Dense, Inc., a non-profit breast cancer organization, kicked off a California-wide public awareness campaign today designed to increase awareness of the risks of dense breast tissue and its impact on the early detection of breast cancer.

8 Apr 2011

IDSI receives FDA additional information request regarding CTLM imaging device 510(k) application

Imaging Diagnostic Systems, Inc., a pioneer in laser breast imaging, announced today that it has received notification from the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA) requesting additional information of its 510 (k) application in order to complete their review.

8 Apr 2011

New USPSTF mammography recommendations confuse women

When the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), an independent panel of experts in primary care and prevention, released its recommendations on mammography screenings for US women on November 16, 2009, there was immediate and considerable controversy.

7 Apr 2011

Two studies on Naviscan high-resolution breast PET scanner

The American Journal of Roentgenology published original research from two separate studies this month demonstrating continued clinical acceptance of the Naviscan high-resolution breast PET scanner, otherwise known as a PEM scanner.

7 Apr 2011

Americans concerned about thyroid cancer development from mammography

Some Americans have expressed concern, due to an erroneous media report, that the small amount of radiation a patient receives from a mammogram may significantly increase the likelihood of developing thyroid cancer. This concern simply is not supported in scientific literature.

6 Apr 2011

Having children early in life lowers lifetime risk of breast cancer

Women who have children, particularly early in life, have a lower lifetime risk of breast cancer compared with women who do not. Now, Fox Chase Cancer Center researchers have identified a gene expression pattern in breast tissue that differs between post-menopausal women who had children and post-menopausal women who did not.

6 Apr 2011

New research identifies diverse barriers to breast cancer screening and treatment

A landmark breast health care publication reveals a multitude of barriers that keep women of developing nations from being screened and treated for breast cancer - but offers tools to help countries improve their breast care programs.

2 Apr 2011

LCA calls for comprehensive plan of action to reduce lung cancer mortality

Lung Cancer Alliance called again today for a comprehensive plan of action that will make reducing lung cancer mortality a public health priority.

2 Apr 2011

Research roundup: Patient's income and electronic health records; high deductible plans; raising Medicare age

Healthcare Spending And Preventive Care In High-Deductible And Consumer-Directed Health Plans - Authors analyzed data from more than 800,000 families insured during 2004 and 2005 through one of 53 large employers in U.S., about half offering the high-deductible or consumer-directed plans.

1 Apr 2011