Breast Imaging

Breast imaging includes imaging modalities used for breast cancer screenings and planning therapy once cancer is detected. Mammography is the primary modality used. Mammogram technology is moving from 2D full-field digital mammography (FFDM) to breast tomosynthesis, or 3D mammography, which helps reduce false positive exams by allowing radiologists to look through the layers of tissue. Overlapping areas of dense breast tissue on 2D mammograms appear similar to cancers and 3D tomo helps determine if suspect areas are cancer or not. About 50% of women have dense breast tissue, which appears white on mammograms, the same as cancers, making diagnosis difficult. Radiologists use the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) scoring system to define the density of breast tissue. Many states now require patients to be notified if they have dense breasts so they understand their mammograms might be suboptimal and they should use supplemental imaging that can see through the dense areas. This includes tomosythesis, breast ultrasound, automated breast ultrasound (ABUS), breast MRI, contrast enhanced mammography and nuclear imaging, including positron emission mammography (PEM).

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In preclinical trial, a new breast MRI contrast agent shows metastasis-prone cells at their earliest stage

Human trials are still a few years off, but a new contrast agent for early-detection breast MRI has come through biomedical imaging investigations in mice with flying colors. 

VolparaDensity Used to Guide Patient Selection in First Breast MRI Screening Trial for Women with Extremely Dense Breasts

The DENSE Trial, the first randomized trial investigating the additional value of MRI for screening women with dense breasts, is featured in the current issue of Radiology. 

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Capitol briefing takes aim at USPSTF mammo guidelines

A congresswoman with a personal breast cancer story joined imaging experts for a Capitol Hill briefing that served both to illuminate the importance of mammography screening and also condemn recent U.S. Preventive Services Task Force mammography guidelines.

Volpara Solutions releases VolparaDensity 3.1 for use with tomosynthesis systems from multiple manufacturers at SBI

Volpara Solutions today announced the release of VolparaDensity version 3.1 here at the Society of Breast Imaging’s SBI/ACR Breast Imaging Symposium in Orlando, Fla., April 25-28, 2015 (SBI Booth #214).

Audits of breast MRI performance should separate screening from diagnostic

The cancer detection rate was significantly lower for breast MRI screenings than for diagnostic MRIs, according to a study published in the September issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology.

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On the road: Some face long travel times for breast MRI

While the majority of U.S. women have relatively easy geographic access to most breast imaging services, travel times for breast MRI are notably longer.

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Are breast MRIs and anxiety boosting rate of double mastectomies?

The rise in women getting double mastectomies after a breast cancer diagnosis could be linked to anxiety and breast MRI, as reported by NPR on May 21.

Breast MRI audits should calculate performance measures separately

Comprehensive audits of breast MRI exams should include separate performance benchmarks for screening and diagnostic breast MRI exams, according to a study published online April 29 by the Journal of the American College of Radiology. 

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