June 20, 2008 — iCAD Inc. has initiated a clinical study for Colon CAD, its virtual colonoscopy CAD product, in partnership with ACR Image Metrix, a subsidiary of the American College of Radiology (ACR), to assess the impact of Colon CAD on the accuracy of interpreting CT Colonography exams and the sensitivity of Colon CAD for detecting polyps.
In the study, iCAD and ACR Image Metrix, having completed the development portion of the study, are collaborating on study execution including a multireader, multicase (MRMC) clinical study and will measure the impact of iCAD’s CT Colon CAD product on interpretation and workflow.
Virtual colonoscopy offers patients a less invasive option to conventional colonic polyp detection techniques. Reviewing these images can be tedious and challenging because of the amount of information captured in a CT exam. iCAD’s colon CAD product uses sophisticated image processing analysis technology to identify polyps in images with the potential for streamlining the reading process and improving accuracy, productivity and workflow. The study, which will be managed and executed by ACR Image Metrix, will include up to 20 radiologists, is expected to take about six months to complete and will include the analysis of several hundred cases tested with virtual colonoscopy featuring Colon CAD.
Results from recent trials including the National CTC Trial conducted by the ACR Imaging Network (ACRIN) that demonstrated the effectiveness of virtual colonoscopy as a screening procedure, coupled with recent initiatives to establish Medicare reimbursement for the procedure, may increase the viability of virtual colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening and are likely to drive increased utilization of the procedure.
“CT Colonography will not only provide a new and necessary option for cancer detection, but has the potential to increase screening rates nationwide,” said Abraham Dachman, M.D., Professor of Radiology, University of Chicago Medical Center and Principal Investigator of the Colon CAD study. “While we expect the benefits in polyp detection will be significant, we are also exploring how enhanced workflow features can add to the benefit CAD provides to CT Colonography.”
For more information: www.icadmed.com