Technology Devised for Breast Cancer Imaging Can Reduce Time from Detection to Diagnosis

New contrast-enhanced spectral mammography (CESM) technology reduces ambiguity in mammography results, enabling physicians to detect and diagnose cancer with more confidence--even in the densest part of the breast tissue more rapidly and accurately.

GE Healthcare (Chalfont St. Giles, UK), a developer of digital mammography, announced the introduction of an innovative technology to help in breast cancer diagnosis. GE Healthcare's new SenoBright CESM technology, working like the multiple-flash, red-eye reduction function in a digital camera, uses X-rays at multiple energies to create two separate exposures. These resulting images specifically illuminate and highlight areas where there is angiogenesis, growth of small blood vessels potentially related to the presence of cancer.

"A CESM exam takes from 5 to 10 minutes,” said Dr. Clarisse Dromain, Gustave Roussy Cancer Institute (Villejuif, France). "During my investigation of the use of CESM with my own examinations of patients, I have been able to better define the spread of a cancer compared to standard mammography and ultrasound, and follow-up exams with an MRI [magnetic resonance imaging] validated exactly the same results. Moreover, in the majority of cases the confidence in the diagnosis is high enough that the patient can be told the results that same day,” she added.

SenoBright enables the digital mammography system to detect a completely new type of diagnostic data. Standard mammography only sees the structure of breast tissue. With SenoBright, clinicians can also locate the proliferation of small blood vessels, potentially associated with cancerous tumor growth. In addition, it shows potential for measuring the extension of the lesion to help to plan surgery and treatment. Patients receive an intravenous injection of standard iodine contrast agent, and after two minutes undergo a five-minute digital mammography exam. CESM images are acquired in familiar mammography views so that that they can be quickly and easily correlated with conventional findings, facilitating interpretation by other specialists such as surgeons or oncologists.

"Worldwide, more than 1.2 million people annually are diagnosed with breast cancer. Since 1965, GE Healthcare has made significant progress in providing solutions for breast cancer detection and diagnosis that really bring a change to people's lives. Today through ‘healthymagination,' we continuously develop innovations to reduce costs, increase access and improve quality and efficiency of healthcare delivery around the globe,” said Reinaldo Garcia, president and CEO of GE Healthcare for Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). "GE Healthcare is pleased to bring to market such advanced breast imaging technologies like SenoBright, the result of over 10 years and [US]$12 million investment of research and clinical collaborations. This innovative technology will support the earlier diagnosis of this prevalent disease, by providing access to new diagnostic information at a lower cost.”

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