New automated ultrasound machines make way to NY state hospitals

A new breast cancer screening technology is being added to the list of traditional imaging technologies in New York hospitals.  

According to an Oct. 11 article by The Times Union in Albany, N.Y., new breast cancer screening tools have just been released to a handful of hospitals in New York. Albany Medical Center and Saratoga Hospital are just a couple of New York hospitals to have recently received the new technology.  

As of now, a breast screening done by an automated ultrasound machine will cost no more than a handheld ultrasound test or a mammogram, according to the article, and will provide a bigger picture in detecting and monitoring breast cancer.  

"Automated breast ultrasound machines provide doctors with a more complete image of the breast, can be completed quicker than the handheld method—which may be convenient for the patient and also lets the facility do more exams—and make the technician’s skill less of a factor in the quality of the results," according to the article.   

Having a third option for breast screenings, other than just a mammography or ultrasound, is especially revolutionary for women who have denser breasts. According to the article, 40 percent of women in the U.S. have dense breast. If they live in the state of New York, their ultrasounds are required by law to be covered by insurance. 

Read the full article below: