Mammography topics

The Impact of DBT Angular Range (15° vs. 50°)

Once a women’s risk of developing breast cancer is known, defining an optimal screening strategy becomes important. Such a strategy includes questions on the techniques to use for screening, but should also take into account from what age to screen women, and at what age to stop; when to use highly sensitive screening technologies and when to rely on highly specific ones and so on. This should be placed in perspective in relation to the overall health status of the screened women, and the relative risk of dying from other causes. Moreover, it should take into account relevant costs to both the patient and society.

Recent research in various populations has shown that breast MRI outperforms mammography screening, detecting cancer earlier, and reducing the interval cancer rate. Still selecting patients for such a technique remains a challenge, and it is simply not possible for us to offer the technique to all women at risk. Imaging characteristics may in fact contain a lot of useful information to gauge a woman’s short-term risk of developing breast cancer. Subtle findings, not enough for recall, may be used as an argument for more intensive screening or the application of supplemental screening techniques. It is therefore conceivable that patient selection for supplemental or alternative screening techniques may be performed using characterization of findings present with relatively inexpensive, moderately sensitive, but highly specific screening tools such as mammography. Al applications aimed at automated image analysis may aid in such image-based personification of the screening regimen.

Learning objectives:

1. To be aware of the questions that arise in clinical practice when implementing personalized screening

2. To understand the relative advantages of common screening techniques

3. To appreciate the potential of AI-assisted imaging-based stratification of women to screening cohorts

The women’s health market is flush with misconceptions about the perceived hardships of transitioning from one mammography vendor to another. 

In fact, the transition is very easy: During this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn more about evaluating breast tomosynthesis data from a 50° wide-angle tomosynthesis system. A reading expert will guide you through cases that will both fascinate and challenge you! You’ll become familiar with the value of 50° wide-angle tomosynthesis images and the ease-of-use of the reading solutions on MAMMOVISTA B.smart.

Abstract: The women’s health market is flush with misconceptions about the perceived hardships of transitioning from one mammography vendor to another. In

fact, the transition is quite easy when put in the hands of a vendor who understands your practice and your market. Here is a case study of a breast

imaging center in Cincinnati, OH who made the transition easy when it adopted Wide-Angle Breast Tomosynthesis technology. Join Dr. Anthony Antonoplos and his team at Tri-Health Breast Care for a conversion analysis that outlines the important steps any facility must take to assure success.

Once a women’s risk of developing breast cancer is known, defining an optimal screening strategy becomes important. Such a strategy includes questions on the techniques to use for screening, but should also take into account from what age to screen women, and at what age to stop; when to use highly sensitive screening technologies and when to rely on highly specific ones and so on. This should be placed in perspective in relation to the overall health status of the screened women, and the relative risk of dying from other causes. Moreover, it should take into account relevant costs to both the patient and society.

Recent research in various populations has shown that breast MRI outperforms mammography screening, detecting cancer earlier, and reducing the interval cancer rate. Still selecting patients for such a technique remains a challenge, and it is simply not possible for us to offer the technique to all women at risk. Imaging characteristics may in fact contain a lot of useful information to gauge a woman’s short-term risk of developing breast cancer. Subtle findings, not enough for recall, may be used as an argument for more intensive screening or the application of supplemental screening techniques. It is therefore conceivable that patient selection for supplemental or alternative screening techniques may be performed using characterization of findings present with relatively inexpensive, moderately sensitive, but highly specific screening tools such as mammography. Al applications aimed at automated image analysis may aid in such image-based personification of the screening regimen.

Learning objectives:

1. To be aware of the questions that arise in clinical practice when implementing personalized screening

2. To understand the relative advantages of common screening techniques

3. To appreciate the potential of AI-assisted imaging-based stratification of women to screening cohorts