NCBC Stresses Interdisciplinary Approach to Breast Cancer Treatment

March 24, 2010 - “The NCBC stands as a testament to collaboration, cooperation and camaraderie,” said NCBC President Don Dizon, M.D., FACP, at the 20th Annual National Interdisciplinary Breast Cancer Conference, hosted by National Consortium of Breast Centers (NCBC) on March 20 - 24, 2010 in Las Vegas.
Imaging Technology News spoke with Dr. Dizon in an exclusive interview at NCBC, in which he unscored the importance of an interdisciplinary approach to diagnosing and treating breast cancer.
“Whether it be in medical oncology and the evolving role of genomic fingerprinting and use of targeted treatments, surgical oncology and the use of non-invasive techniques, radiology and the use of newer imaging modalities, or pathology with a continued push for uniformity, breast care has never been so complicated and yet, so rewarding, not only for ourselves, but for those we aim to help: our patients,” said Dr. Dizon.
The exhibitors echoed the call for interdisciplinary medicine to managing breast cancer by displaying diverse technologies that offer innovative techniques for diagnosing and treating breast cancer.

Aspyra announced at the show the FDA gave clearance to its AccessNET PACS, with viewing capabilities for digital mammography studies for diagnostic interpretation using FDA approved monitors. The PACS will now include the display of mammography CAD results, the IHE conformant hanging protocols, and other display capabilities for digital mammography studies.

This system integrates with the on-board functionality of the Matrox Xenia card, which provides significant performance and quality improvements using high-resolution displays and images required for mammography.

Other recent enhancements to the PACS target performance improvement for accessing and reading radiological images. These include more intelligent compression for transferring images and dictations from remote locations, improvements in the navigation and functionality of commonly used imaging tools, and support for management of critical results.

For more information: www.aspyra.com

Carestream Health is demonstrating the workflow enhancement tools in its multi-modality breast imaging workstation, the Kodak Carestream Mammography Workstation. The multi-modality workstation enables diagnostic review of all breast imaging exams (full-field digital mammography (FFDM), ultrasound, MR, CR and others) as well as all general radiology exams. It also displays surgical files, clinical images and patient data in any format at one workstation. With this model, radiologists do not have to read FFDM exams on each vendor’s proprietary workstation, and then switch to additional workstations to review other types of breast and general radiology exams.
The workstation also displays mammography CAD markers, integration of breast MRI CAD, and decision support tools. The company’s mammography workstation can be integrated with RIS/PACS systems from multiple vendors. (www.carestreamhealth.com)

Dilon is touting its recently FDA cleared GammaLoc system, as an accessory to the Dilon 6800. GammaLoc is a gamma-guided localization system to enable gamma-guided biopsy. The Gamma Loc system utilizes a CorreLocator paddle and a StereoView imaging collimator system – a technique similar to that used in stereotactic X-ray localization. The GammaLoc software calculates the specific location of the suspect lesion.
The GammaLoc system includes the following capabilities:
• localizes lesions found through breast-specific gamma imaging, a molecular breast imaging technique;
• allows the physician to calculate lesion location and depth;
• incorporates a computer user interface with detailed step-by-step procedure instructions; and
• provides 180 degree access for gamma-guided biopsy.
(www.dilon.com)

DR Systems has debuted the Unity Women’s Health Imaging PACS designed to handle images and date from the following modalities: digital mammography, digitized prior film-based mammograms, breast MRI, PET/CT, breast ultrasound, CR-mammography, bone density, and nuclear imaging.
The automated platform integrates the following workflows:
• resource-based scheduling
• patient registration and tracking
• technologist image acquisition
• diagnostic reading and clinical review
• automated reporting
• BiRADS, MQSA tracking and mailing
• exam archive
• Web distribution to referring physicians and electronic medical records
• charge capture to a facility's billing system or service
• facility-defined managerial reports
Michael Trambert, M.D., lead radiologist for PACS reengineering at Sansum-Santa Barbara Medical Foundation Clinic, Santa Barbara, Calif., the first clinic to go live with the solution, gave a talk on his latest findings regarding the integrating FFDM with PACS. (www.dominator.com)

GE Healthcare is spotlighting the Senographe Essential. This FFDM platform serves both current and future applications. It features a large 24 x 31 cm detector to accommodate all breasts shapes and sizes. A is designed to offer image quality at an low dose. The streamlined workflow for faster throughput and increased first-time accuracy. The Seno Advantage review workstation with PACS connectivity. The goal of GE Healthcare's early health model is to help clinicians detect disease earlier, access more information and intervene earlier with more targeted treatments.

For more information: www.gehealthcare.com

Hologic Inc.is highlighting the Selenia Dimensions 2D digital breast mammography system. According to Hologic, everything in the new system Selenia Dimensions 2D can be configured for 3D breast imaging when and if breast tomosynthesis is approved by the FDA.

The company also has on display the MultiCare Platinum prone biopsy table, a prone system with new features to make it more comfortable for the patient and easier for the doctor in doing prone breast biopsies.

In the line of workstations at NCBC, Hologic has added a new multimodality and MR-CADWorks options to the SecurView mammography software. The SecurView workstation now offers enhanced review features for all breast imaging modalities in a single integrated platform. Hanging protocols define different modalities, and the workflow keypad has been integrated with the multimodality viewer.

The multimodality viewing options can be expanded with Hologic’s new MR-CADWorks package for advanced review of breast MRI images, including a full suite of tools to allow for analysis of kinetics, or wash-in and wash-out of contrast agent over time. All processing of MRI images is done locally so that images can be displayed in different presentation formats dynamically.

For more information: www.hologic.com

iCAD is highlighting its computer aided detection (CAD) products for the early detection of breast cancer and other health-care related applications. CAD from iCAD can reportedly detect 25 percent of breast cancers, an average of 14 months earlier than screening mammography alone. iCAD is an independent, integrated digitizer hardware and CAD software company offering computer aided detection solutions. (www.icadmed.com)

Magview is featuring its mammography and breast procedure reporting and tracking systems. The modular solutions include HIS/RIS MagLink Interfaces, Smart Scheduler for patient scheduling, QC EasyWare for quality control, Digital Dictation, Transcript Management, Film Tracking, RIS and billing systems and more to meet the needs of stand alone radiology clinics. (www.magview.com)

Naviscan is illustrating how positron emission mammography (PEM) system can be integrated into a busy mammography department in the poster board Integration of Positron Emission Mammography (PEM) in a Clinical Breast Center. The poster listed comparisons between PEM to breast MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) for referring physicians. The list indicated that for younger patients, PEM is a better option because of hormonal changes. It also stated that PEM might be a better option than breast MRI for patients challenged to fit in an MRI due to weight, claustrophobia, patients with metal implants, or for patients with adverse gadolinium/contrast reactions. (www.naviscan.com)

PenRad Technologies Inc. is featuring its Digital QC Mammography module engineered to automats the process of recording and calculating for the digital environment for FDA recognized modalities AWS, RWS, and printers based on guidelines established by the individual manufacturers and/or MQSA. PenRad offers a Digital QA/QC module for digital imaging facilities in addition to its analog module. The data is captured into a simple form to track, calculate, and record. The module produces MQSA reports for audit and inspections. The QA/QC data can be centrally located or installed on a laptop and transported to each room or reading area. (www.penrad.com)

Philips Healthcarefeatured its Integral Breast Workspace, which includes the products MammoDiagnost VU, Multi-modality Breast Applications and DynaCAD on a single workspot. The Integral Breast Workspace is also a multivendor workstation. The system is designed to address the need for integrated image and information management and seamlessly interfaces advanced processing capabilities for mammography, ultrasound and MRI.

Also on display was the latest version of the iU22 ultrasound system featuring advanced breast imaging capabilities, including elastography was on display, which is pending FDA 510(k) clearance, and is not available for sale in North America. Elastography on the iU22 system with L12-5 transducer and Advanced Breast Tissue Specific Imaging (TSI) preset enables clinicians to differentiate relative stiffness of tissue through sonographic examination. Elastography, in addition to features such as volume imaging, tissue aberration correction and smart exam, make the iU22 well-suited for breast imaging.

Sectra demonstrated its new mammography workstation built on Sectra RapidConnect technology. The next generation workstation combines newly engineered technology for faster mammography workflow with remote reading capabilities.

Sectra RapidConnect, a core component in Sectra PACS, is designed to allow physicians to cooperate and efficiently share the workload at full productivity from other hospitals or from home on a global basis, also for large volumes and poor networks. (www.sectra.com)

SenoRX Inc. has on display its multi-lumen radiation balloon applicator for accelerated partial breast irradiation, Contura. The applicator uses a vacuum to remove excess fluid and to adhere closely to often irregularly shaped lumpectomy cavities in order to deliver reportedly precise radiation dosing through multiple seed lumens. Treatment time is reduced to days versus weeks, and accurate, targeted radiation dosing decreases potential recurrence of cancer cells in the lumpectomy site, according to the manufacturer. (www.senorx.com)

Siemens Healthcare is focusing on its new biopsy unit, not FDA cleared, and which is designed to enhance the Mammomat Inspiration digital mammography platform with stereotactic breast biopsy. The biopsy unit installs by sliding on the full-field detector of the mammography platform. Using the same detector ensures that the radiographic image quality remains high. The mammography system detects the biopsy unit and automatically switches all hardware and software configuration settings to the biopsy mode. A preconfigured examination workflow and the user interface help guide clinical personnel through the intervention.
The system enables vertical or lateral needle access to lesions. Only one workstation is required for all applications of the mammography platform.
With Mammomat Inspiration, screening, diagnostics, biopsy, and tomosynthesis (in the future) are all based on one digital platform for the first time. A hospital or private practice can purchase a screening device as needed, and enhance this basic system with the biopsy unit and, eventually, with 3D tomosynthesis currently in development. (www.siemens.com/healthcare)

Sony featuring the FilmStation Mammography Film Imager, model UP-DF750, for full-field digital mammography (FFDM) applications. Sony is offering a two-year warranty and a free 32-inch high-definition Sony Bravi LCD TV as a promotion upon purchasing the imager.
The UP-DF750 imager provides a variety of film formats with two online media trays, capable of covering any choice of film media type to cover all radiography applications. The print quality aims to fulfill the stringent mammography requirements in terms of optical density and resolution. The UP-DF750 features edge-to-edge printing and up to 20 user/application specific gamma curves for generating optimized and dedicated image reproduction for each application. (sony.com/filmstation)

For more information: www.breastcare.org