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.

Ultra–X BH selected as exclusive distributor for CTLM system in Brazil

Imaging Diagnostic Systems, Inc., a pioneer in laser optical breast imaging, announced today that Ultra–X BH has been selected as the exclusive distributor for the CT Laser Mammography (CTLM®) system throughout Brazil. The company will market the system to the private and public sector.

29 Jan 2010

Data demonstrates overall radiation with digital mammography is less than film mammography

Data from one of the largest mammography trials in history demonstrates that overall the radiation dose associated with digital mammography is significantly lower (averaging 22 percent lower) than that of conventional film mammography and that the reduction could be greater in women with larger and denser breasts, according to a study published in the February issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology.

21 Jan 2010

First Coast Oncology uses PEM scanner and AccuBoost image guided procedure for breast cancer treatment

First Coast Oncology in Jacksonville, Florida has significantly enhanced its ability to treat breast cancer with the addition of a Naviscan PEM (Positron Emission Mammography) scanner.

20 Jan 2010

Enterprise, National Community Fund I closed on $22.3M NMTC transaction

Enterprise Community Investment, Inc. (Enterprise), a national leader in affordable housing and community development, and National Community Fund I, LLC, an affiliate of United Fund Advisors, LLC, recently closed on a $22.3 million New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) transaction. This will finance the new construction of the Harrison Circle Building at the Morris Heights Health Center (MHHC) in Bronx, N.Y.

20 Jan 2010

Radiology Regional Center initiates participation in SOMO•INSIGHT Clinical Study

U-Systems announced today that Radiology Regional Center has initiated participation in the SOMO•INSIGHT Clinical Study. The first breast center in Southwest Florida to participate, Radiology Regional Center is recruiting participants for the national clinical research study designed to evaluate whether digital mammography in combination with the somo•v™ Automated Breast Ultrasound System (ABUS) from U-Systems is more sensitive to detecting breast lesions when compared to Mammography alone in women with dense breasts.

20 Jan 2010

Karolinska Institutet receives donation to advance breast cancer research

"We are very happy to be donating money to the fight against breast cancer, especially in light of our own family history," says M-rit Rausing. "Hans's mother and grandmother both died of the disease, and his father, Ruben, put considerable effort into finding a cure. Of course, it's also important when you think that breast cancer is one of the most common diseases."

13 Jan 2010

Congress expected to shun mammography recommendations in final health bill

The Wall Street Journal: "The final health-care bill is likely to require coverage for more mammograms than the new guidelines recommend after women's groups, doctors and imaging-equipment makers stepped up pressure on lawmakers -- one of many threads of the bill negotiated behind the scenes." In November, the federally funded U.S. Preventive Services Task Force issued a report saying that "routine mammograms weren't necessary for women in their 40s who have normal cancer risk.

13 Jan 2010

University Hospitals in Cleveland selects Sectra as PACS provider

University Hospitals in Cleveland, Ohio has selected the IT and medical-technology company Sectra as their PACS provider. University Hospitals has been recognized by Thomson Reuters as a Top 10 hospital system in the U.S., and by U.S. News and World Report as one of America’s best hospitals.

12 Jan 2010

PET-CT imaging appears to detect cancer in patients with neurologic complications

A combined positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) scan of the whole body appears to detect cancer in individuals with related neurologic complications more accurately than some other commonly used tests, according to a report posted online today that will appear in the March print issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

12 Jan 2010

More women die of breast cancer in areas where mammography centers are few

More women die of breast cancer in areas where mammography centers are few and far between, according to research by a Medical College of Georgia radiology resident.

12 Jan 2010

Use of technology that expands access to qualified radiologist leads to earlier diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer

Use of technology that expands access to the most qualified radiologist will lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, said MedSolutions, a leading provider of medical cost management services.

8 Jan 2010

New outpatient imaging center opened in Waukesha’s Westbrook Health Center

Center for Diagnostic Imaging (CDI) has opened a new outpatient imaging center in Waukesha’s Westbrook Health Center, and has relocated all of its Delafield center services to this new location. The new center allows CDI to expand services to include high-field (1.5T) MRI, multi-slice CT as well as x-ray. In addition, there are plans of offering digital mammography and ultrasound services in early 2010.

6 Jan 2010

SBI and ACR publish new recommendations on breast cancer screening

The new recommendations from the Society of Breast Imaging (SBI) and the American College of Radiology (ACR) on breast cancer screening, published in the January issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology (JACR), state that breast cancer screening should begin at age 40 and earlier in high-risk patients. The recommendations also suggest appropriate utilization of medical imaging modalities such as mammography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasound for breast cancer screening.

5 Jan 2010

Stochastic resonance can improve breast cancer detection

Members of a Syracuse University research team have shown that an obscure phenomenon called stochastic resonance (SR) can improve the clarity of signals in systems such as radar, sonar and even radiography, used in medical clinics to detect signs of breast cancer. It does this by adding carefully selected noise to the system.

23 Dec 2009

Baylor University Medical Center adds Naviscan PEM to its imaging services

The Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas has taken delivery of the Naviscan PEM scanner at its Darlene G. Cass Women's Imaging Center. Baylor will utilize PEM (Positron Emission Mammography) to complement their existing anatomical tools by providing a critical three-dimensional metabolic perspective of breast cancer. The metabolic view allows physicians to make the optimal cancer care decisions by providing an unprecedented ability to distinguish between benign and malignant lesions in what researchers call "specificity".

22 Dec 2009

Charitable donors commit longer-term pledges and gifts, despite recession

In a sign of what to expect in 2010, businesses and individuals hit hardest by the economy's slide have shifted charitable giving patterns to longer-term pledges and gift commitments rather than ceasing to give altogether, according to a study of benchmarking data and effective philanthropic fundraising techniques released today by the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP).

22 Dec 2009

SenoRx wins patent infringement case

Hologic, Inc. (Hologic or the Company), a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of premium diagnostics, medical imaging systems and surgical products dedicated to serving the healthcare needs of women, today announced that the jury in the patent infringement lawsuit against SenoRx brought by Hologic, Cytyc Corp., and Hologic L.P., Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California has returned a verdict in favor of SenoRx.

22 Dec 2009

Women eligible for breast cancer screening with MRI decline to undergo the procedure, study shows

In a new study published in the January issue of Radiology, 42 percent of women eligible for breast cancer screening with MRI declined to undergo the procedure.

22 Dec 2009

AMICAS announces new contract with Central Kentucky Radiology

AMICAS, Inc., a leader in image and information management solutions, today announced a new contract with Central Kentucky Radiology (Lexington, KY). This agreement will allow Central Kentucky Radiology to use AMICAS Financials(TM) to streamline their radiology billing and AMICAS RIS(TM) to gain practice management efficiencies and to further improve service delivery effectiveness.

22 Dec 2009

Task force's role in reform bills draws scrutiny in the wake of mammography guidelines

The Washington Post reports that the "once-obscure federal panel that triggered a firestorm with its new mammography guidelines would get far greater authority under the health-care reform proposals pending in Congress, sparking more debate about its power and independence. Critics of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force say that the panel would become a stealth tool for government bureaucrats bent on rationing health care.

21 Dec 2009