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).

FUJIFILM submits first PMA module for digital breast tomosynthesis

FUJIFILM Medical Systems U.S.A., Inc., a leading provider of diagnostic imaging solutions, has submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the first module of its premarket approval (PMA) application for digital breast tomosynthesis* (DBT), as an optional upgrade for the Aspire Cristalle mammography system.

July 16, 2015
Senator Barbara Mikulski

Mikulski counters USPSTF draft recommendations in letter to Burwell

Senator Barbara Mikulski, D-MD, responded to the latest United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) draft breast screening recommendations by sending a letter to HHS Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell, calling for the continued availability of free annual mammograms for women ages 40 and older.

April 22, 2015
Radiologist reading breast imaging, mammography, exams on a PACS system. Monique Rasband, vice president of imaging, cardiology and oncology, KLAS Research, explains some of technology trends KLAS researchers have found in enterprise imaging system and radiology artificial intelligence (AI).

USPSTF disappoints on mammography guidance, ACR and SBI respond

The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) announced its newest draft breast cancer screening recommendations Monday, once again sparking controversy by recommending biennial mammograms for women ages 50 to 74 and giving them a “B” grade.

April 21, 2015
Example of a mammogram showing X-ray images of both the right and left breast and patches of dense breast tissue.

ACR, SBI tee off Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Screening guidelines and technology tools were up for discussion Sept. 29, when ACR teamed with the Society of Breast Imaging (SBI) to tee up the Oct. 1 start of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. 

September 29, 2014

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.

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