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Ultrasound lags behind MRI for supplemental breast cancer screening

Date:
February 26, 2015
Source:
American Roentgen Ray Society
Summary:
Although supplemental screening via ultrasound is unaffected by breast density, is not associated with ionizing radiation, and does not require IV contrast material, acceptance of this modality has lagged.
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Cancer screening of women with dense breast tissue is a subject of great interest to both the medical community and the press. Dense parenchyma reduces the sensitivity of mammography to half that of fatty breasts. Approximately 40% of women 40 years of age or older have dense breast tissue, making supplemental breast cancer screening essential.

Although supplemental screening via ultrasound is unaffected by breast density, is not associated with ionizing radiation, and does not require IV contrast material, acceptance of this modality has lagged.

According to Ellen B. Mendelson, professor of radiology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and Wendie A. Berg, professor of radiology at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC, a significant factor is lack of available intensive training opportunities.

"The most common alternative screening modality, MRI, cannot be used with women who have pacemakers or other devices, severe claustrophobia, or renal insufficiency," say Drs. Mendelson and Berg. "To realize ultrasound's potential to increase the number of cancers detected, intensive training programs need to be put in place for physician performers and interpreters for both handheld and automated breast ultrasound systems."

The opinion piece appears in the February issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology.


Story Source:

Materials provided by American Roentgen Ray Society. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Ellen B. Mendelson and Wendie A. Berg. Training and Standards for Performance, Interpretation, and Structured Reporting for Supplemental Breast Cancer Screening. American Journal of Roentgenology, March 2015

Cite This Page:

American Roentgen Ray Society. "Ultrasound lags behind MRI for supplemental breast cancer screening." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 26 February 2015. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/02/150226122441.htm>.
American Roentgen Ray Society. (2015, February 26). Ultrasound lags behind MRI for supplemental breast cancer screening. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 18, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/02/150226122441.htm
American Roentgen Ray Society. "Ultrasound lags behind MRI for supplemental breast cancer screening." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/02/150226122441.htm (accessed March 18, 2024).

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