7/26/07
CMH adds computer-aided detection to its breast cancer arsenal
By Cathy Gilbert
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A technician feeds a traditional mammogram film into a CAD reader which then marks the film for areas that may need a second look. Above, a marked film. |
Clarendon Memorial Hospital has stepped up its ability to make early detection a lethal tool in the war against breast cancer.
“We have been using a ‘Computer-Aided Detection’ program with our mammogram services since the end of May of this year,” said Steve Davis, director of radiology at CMH.
“We wanted to be sure that the service was working very well before we began marketing it to our patients.”
Computer-Aided Detection or CAD in mammography is like a spellcheker for a word processor, Davis explained.
“It’s like a second pair of eyes for the radiologist,” he said. “It is designed to assist the radiologist in reducing the number of false negative reading resulting from the length of time between screenings. The program will draw the radiologist’s attention to areas that may warrant a second review.”
According to Davis, medical literature has shown that CAD can help radiologists detect up to 68 percent of missed cancers 15 months earlier than screening mammography does alone.
The program has been approved by the FDA and is based on using mathematical formulas and statistical computations to identify changes in breast tissue that could easily be missed by the human eye.
The early detection of breast cancer can save lives and often permits less costly and less invasive cancer treatment options than when detected at a later stage.
The CAD program can be used as part of the regular mammogram screening and does not require additional procedures of the patient.
Because its use can prevent unnecessary procedures, Medicare and most private insurance companies consider CAD as a reimbursable expense.
Annual mammograms and monthly self-breast exams are the best way to prevent a devastating breast cancer diagnosis. With advances in cancer research, a breast cancer caught at its earliest stage is highly treatable, according to the American Cancer Society.
For more information about CAD and mammography, contact Davis at 435-3121. |
