| Back to Press Releases 2002 |
|
Women Get ‘Second Opinion’ On Mammograms With Hospital’s New Imagechecker
ROME- December 2, 2002– Rome Memorial Hospital is purchasing a new computer-aided detection system that can help increase breast cancer detection rates by up to 20%, announced Mark Snyderman, assistant vice president of outpatient services.
“Combined with the expertise of our radiologists, the R2 Technology ImageChecker system will help us identify some of the smallest cancers earlier, when survival rates are more than 96%,” Snyderman said. “This system will give women the assurance that we are doing everything possible to detect breast cancer at its earliest stage.”
“Because the appearance of normal breast tissue varies widely on a mammogram, signs of breast cancer can be extremely subtle,” explained radiologist John Restivo, M.D., chairman of the Medical Imaging Department. “Every advancement in technology enhances our ability to detect those subtle signs.”
After a woman has had her mammogram, the radiologist will review the film and compare it with earlier mammograms, if available, he explained. Then the film will be scanned into the ImageChecker for a “second opinion.” If the ImageChecker highlights any regions for additional review, the radiologist will recheck the mammogram film to determine if additional diagnostic testing is required.
In a recent study of 12,860 women undergoing screening mammography, researchers reported a 19.5% increase in cancer detection with the use of computer-aided detection.
“We are pleased to be able to offer this new technology for our patients,” said Department Director Josh Porte. The new ImageChecker is expected to be available by mid-December.
Porte urged women to get regular mammograms. “Mammography can identify cancer before physical symptoms develop,” he said. “It is the best method available for diagnosing breast cancer at a stage when it can be most effectively treated.”
The American Cancer Society recommends that all women age 40 and over get a mammogram and a clinical breast exam every year. Mammograms may be recommended at more frequent intervals or for younger women who are at greater risk of developing breast cancer. The Cancer Society also recommends that all women 20 and older conduct monthly breast self-exams. Women ages 20 to 39 should have a clinical breast exam every three years.
The Cancer Society estimated that approximately 187,500 new cases of breast cancer would be diagnosed in 2001. About 40,200 women were expected to die from the disease in 2001.
“The ImageChecker is one more tool in our fight against the devastating effects of cancer,” Restivo said.
|
|
|
Back to Press Releases 2002 |
