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).

partners.jpg

Bayer, Hologic unite to improve availability of contrast-enhanced mammography

The two companies have partnered on a new FDA-cleared CT injection system for the early detection of breast cancer.

April 12, 2024
medicare advantage rural healthcare hospitals

ACR chief research officer tapped for clinical trial recruitment initiative

Etta Pisano, MD, will identify rural hospitals and help them to onboard patients into new clinical studies.

March 20, 2024
Video of Samir Patel, MD, diagnostic radiologist at Radiology Inc., value management program founder and director and a board member of the Beacon Health System, explaining how AI is being implemented in mammography at RSNA 2023.

Real-world implementation of AI in mammography

Samir Patel, MD, radiologist at Radiology Inc., and a board member of the Beacon Health System, explains how AI is being implemented in clinical practice for breast imaging. 

 

January 19, 2024
Video interview with Radiology Business Management Association (RBMA) President Kit Crancer, and executive director of the Rayus Quality Institute, where he said the lack of federal policy on insurance coverage for diagnostic breast exams as opposed to screening exams

State legislation addresses gaps in breast imaging coverage, ensures affordable diagnostic exams

RBMA President Kit Crancer said a lack of federal policy has driven 20 states to adopt laws requiring that insurance cover the costs. 

January 11, 2024
Lunit INSIGHT DBT

Lunit AI-powered 3D breast imaging receives FDA clearance

The product allows radiologists to zoom into breast cancer lesions and gather details on potential malignancy. 

November 14, 2023
quality

Novel ‘next level of care’ protocol reduces wait times for follow-up services in radiology

Those involved believe the approach is “reproducible and systematic” and can potentially be applied nationally for any biopsies involving radiologists. 

November 13, 2023
Artificial intelligence can help make breast cancer screening mammography more accurate.

Solis Mammography, 1 of state’s largest health systems partner to open multiple imaging centers

St. David’s HealthCare operates a total of eight hospitals in Texsa, employing 11,400 individuals across 180-plus sites of care. 

November 10, 2023
An RSNA attendee undergoes an MRI brain scan on the expo floor using the Hyperfine Swoop head MRI system. It is self-shields with a low field 0.064 T. It uses a standard wall power outlet and can be wheeled through a standard 34-inch wide door frame. It weighs 1,400 pounds. Imaging sequences include T1, T2, FLAIR, and DWI (with ADC map) and its operational controls are all directed on an iPad interface. #RSNA #RSNA22

FDA clears new artificial intelligence capabilities for portable MRI scanner

This is the eighth clearance in the past three years for Hyperfine's Swoop system, company officials said Monday. 

October 9, 2023

Around the web

"This was an unneeded burden, which was solely adding to the administrative hassles of medicine," said American Society of Nuclear Cardiology President Larry Phillips.

SCAI and four other major healthcare organizations signed a joint letter in support of intravascular ultrasound. 

The newly approved AI models are designed to improve the detection of pulmonary embolisms and strokes in patients who undergo CT scans.

Trimed Popup
Trimed Popup