Mammography is an effective tool for the detection of breast cancer; however, it doesn’t work equally well in all women, particularly those with dense breast tissue.
GREENVILLE, N.C. (PRWEB) May 30, 2018
Carolina Breast Imaging Specialists announced today that they continue to be at the forefront of breast care by now offering the InveniaTM ABUS (Automated Breast Ultrasound System), approved by the FDA for breast cancer screening as an adjunct to mammography for asymptomatic women with dense breasts.
“We are excited to add the Automated Breast Ultrasound system from GE Healthcare to our comprehensive breast cancer screening program. By offering ABUS in addition to 3D mammography for our patients with dense breast tissue, we anticipate improving detection for small cancers that cannot be seen on a mammogram alone in these women. We believe ABUS will become an integral part of our practice for the detection of breast cancer,” said Bruce F. Schroeder, M.D.—the center’s medical director.
Dense breast tissue not only increases the risk of breast cancer up to 4-6 times but also makes cancer more difficult to detect using mammography, according to multiple large studies. One study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed mammography sensitivity is reduced by 36 to 38 percent in women with dense breasts, as density masks the appearance of tumors (Boyd, et al, NEJM 2007:356:227-36M). As breast density goes up, the accuracy of mammograms goes down (Kolb et al Radiology, October 2002).
As a result, most states, including North Carolina, have passed laws mandating that women be notified if their breasts are dense, and may offer supplemental imaging as appropriate.
“Mammography is an effective tool for the detection of breast cancer; however, it doesn’t work equally well in all women, particularly those with dense breast tissue,” added Schroeder. “Designed and built specifically for screening, research shows that ABUS technology as an adjunct to mammography has the potential to find 35.7 percent additional cancers that would not have been found with mammography alone.”
The Invenia ABUS system is FDA-approved for breast cancer screening in the United States as an adjunct to mammography for asymptomatic women with dense breast tissue. Dr.Schroeder recommends that women get regular mammograms, and if they have been informed that they have dense breast tissue, they should talk to their doctor about their specific risk and additional screening tests that might be appropriate.
For further information about Invenia ABUS, visit http://www.CBISpecialists.com/ABUS
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