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).

Confirma breast MRI CAD provider for RadNet Management

Confirma Inc. will provide its CADstream system to RadNet Management Inc., a California provider of medical imaging services, making it the exclusive breast MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) CAD (computer aided detection) system for RadNet's 55 diagnostic

Confirma, iCAD to market combined mammo and breast MRI CAD technologies

Computer-aided detection (CAD) firms Confirma Inc. and iCAD Inc. have signed an agreement to market each other's respective CAD technologies.

Confirma rolls out breast MRI system at four CDI sites

Confirma Inc. will be the exclusive provider of CAD (computer-aided detection) technology for breast MRI for the Center for Diagnostic Imaging (CDI).

Aurora completes first installation of 1.5Tdedicated breast MRI system

Aurora Imagine Technology Inc. has installed its dedicated breast MRI system at Knoxville Comprehensive Breast Center.

Around the web

Positron, a New York-based nuclear imaging company, will now provide Upbeat Cardiology Solutions with advanced PET/CT systems and services. 

The nuclear imaging isotope shortage of molybdenum-99 may be over now that the sidelined reactor is restarting. ASNC's president says PET and new SPECT technologies helped cardiac imaging labs better weather the storm.

CMS has more than doubled the CCTA payment rate from $175 to $357.13. The move, expected to have a significant impact on the utilization of cardiac CT, received immediate praise from imaging specialists.