April 27, 2009 – iCAD Inc. reported that it has installed VividLook Computer-Aided Detection (CAD) analysis solution for prostate MRI at Research Medical Center in Kansas City, Mo.
VividLook uses a complex algorithm to provide radiologists and radiation oncologists with precise information to assist in determining malignancies versus benign tumors and to pinpoint tumor location and size.
“Prostate cancer has traditionally been evaluated by digital rectal examination (DRE) in combination with other clinical data including prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests and pathologic information,” said John Sheldon, MD, radiation oncologist at Research Medical Center. “By incorporating MRI with CAD to accurately locate sites of cancer from within the complex vasculature of the prostate, we will be better able to determine the extent of prostate cancer in ways that we previously couldn’t using CT or biopsy results alone. Armed with this knowledge, we can confidently map our plan of attack in fighting these prolific cancers.”
The National Cancer Institute has estimated that in 2008 more than185,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, 28,660 men will die of prostate cancer, and 1 in 6 men will be affected by this disease over their lifetime. Commonly used diagnostic tests have been shown to have high false positive and false negative rates. In addition, biopsies are blind and random and they can miss at least 20 percent of cancer.
iCAD’s VividLook is a post processing software package designed to provide a reliable means of visualizing the presence and pattern of contrast induced enhancement of MR images in the prostate, helping radiologists distinguish benign from malignant lesions. This can be difficult without CAD because many portions of the prostate show large enhancement with contrast MRI alone, making it difficult to identify the real areas of concern. VividLook, iCAD’s MR Prostate analysis solution provides more diagnostic information by utilizing all available time points, creating colorized images based on signal changes defined by tumor physiology.
“Prostate MRI is a relatively new diagnostic tool, and similar to breast MRI for women, can add potentially life-saving enhancement to the diagnosis of disease,” said Ken Ferry, President and CEO of iCAD. “iCAD is dedicated to helping clinicians find the most prevalent cancers earlier, faster and with greater confidence. Our CAD technology is instrumental in the analysis of prostate MRI, uncovering potential cancers among the vasculature of the prostate and the thousands of images resulting from an MRI.”
Prostate MRI with CAD is an important advance for some patients who may not be candidates for prostate biopsy, such as those taking oral antiplatelet agents to inhibit blood clots in coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, and cerebrovascular disease. Many of these patients have to choose between coming off this medication and having a prostate biopsy.
In addition, people who have had heart surgery and people with the following medical devices can be safely examined with MRI:
- Surgical clips or sutures
- Artificial joints
- Staples
- Most cardiac valve replacements
- Disconnected medication pumps
- Vena cava filters
- Brain shunt tubes for hydrocephalus
Added Dr. Sheldon, “As MRI imaging for prostate cancer becomes used more within the medical community, particularly in strategies involving active surveillance, it becomes more important to raise awareness of this diagnostic tool among the greater population. I am pleased at the progress iCAD is making on this front through their commitment to technological advances that can detect prostate cancer earlier than ever before.”
For more information: www.icadmed.com.
September 07, 2023 
