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Leila J. Eisenstein Breast Center at Providence Medford Medical Center installed a new Computer Aided Detection (CAD) system for breast cancer screening. The CAD system assists radiologists by digitizing and analyzing mammograms for suspicious regions that may be indicative of cancer. Studies show that the use of CAD could result in earlier detection of more than 30 percent of breast cancers currently detected with screening mammography.
“Early diagnosis is the key to surviving breast cancer and mammography screenings with the benefit of CAD could prevent thousands of breast cancer deaths each year in the United States alone Kenneth Haugen, M.D, Medical Director of Providence Cancer Center Radiation Oncology. “Regular screening mammograms are the best way to detect breast cancer early, which is also when it is easiest to treat. Now that we have the new CAD here at Providence, we will be able to confidently identify abnormalities or signs of disease on a regular basis during our mammogram screen analyses and significantly increase our detection rate of invasive cancers.”
The ImageChecker Computer Aided Detection system is the first U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved system for use in breast cancer screening. FDA Studies show use of the ImageChecker could result in earlier detection of up to 23.4% of the cancers currently detected with screening mammography in those women who had a prior screening mammogram 9 to 24 months earlier. Other studies say the number may be higher than 30%.
The CAD system is currently used in conjunction with film based mammography. After digitizing a film mammogram, the system’s specialized processing software analyzes the image and draws the radiologist’s attention to suspicious features that may be indicative of cancer. The radiologist typically reviews the entire mammogram first and then activates the ImageChecker monitor to see if any areas have been highlighted for additional review. If an image is marked, the radiologist goes back to the original mammogram to review this area of the image in more detail.
According to the American Cancer Society, if breast cancer is identified early, the patient’s chances for survival are 95%.
Digital mammography is a relatively new x-ray imaging technology to aid in early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer. The Leila J. Eisenstein Breast Center at Providence Medford Medical Center is one of only a few medical centers in the region to have this sophisticated new imaging equipment. For the patient, the experience is similar to traditional film mammography. Firm compression is needed to obtain the best possible image.
Read more about Digital Mammography.
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