"Image Checker Screens for Breast Cancer"
By Bob Abbott, CRA, Director of Imaging of Atlantic General Hospital

Approximately 200,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer this year, and studies show that up to 23.4 percent of breast cancer could be detected earlier. Atlantic General Hospital's new ImageChecker Computer Aided Detection (CAD) system will assist radiologists in minimizing false negative readings during mammograms and breast cancer screenings.

Early diagnosis is key to surviving breast cancer and mammography screenings with the benefit of the ImageChecker CAD system could prevent thousands of breast cancer deaths in the United States. Regular screening mammograms are the best way to detect breast cancer early, which is when it's easiest to treat.

The ImageChecker will assist radiologists to confidently identify abnormalities or signs of disease on a regular basis during mammogram screening analyses and significantly increase the detection rate of invasive cancers.
The ImageChecker System from R2 Technology is the first U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved CAD system for use with screening and diagnostic, as well as digital, mammography. Studies show use of the ImageChecker could result in earlier detection of up to 23.4 percent of the cancers currently detected with screening mammography in those women who had a prior screening mammogram nine to 24 months earlier.

The ImageChecker system is used in conjunction with film-based and digital mammography. After acquiring a digital image or digitizing a film mammogram, the system's specialized processing software analyzes the image and draws the radiologist's attention to suspicious features that may indicate cancer. The radiologist typically reviews the entire mammogram first before using the ImageChecker monitor to see if any areas have been highlighted for additional review. If an image is marked, the radiologist goes back to the original mammogram to review the area in more detail.

According to the National Institute of Health, if breast cancer is identified early, in stage 0 or I, when it is confined to the duct or local area of the breast, the patient's chances for survival are dramatically higher. The five-year survival rate for breast cancer patients decreases from approximately 95 percent for cancers detected and treated at an early stage, to 36 percent for stage III cancers (where the cancer has spread to the surrounding tissue) to just seven percent for late stage cancers that have spread to distant organs.

"Our dedication to winning the fight against breast disease and the benefits of screening mammography is further enhanced by the use of the ImageChecker," said Barry G. Beeman, President and CEO of Atlantic General Hospital. "This new CAD system will allow us to provide our patients all the benefits of early detection and improve overall management and treatment."
For more information, contact Atlantic General Hospital at 410-641-9640.

Maggie's Memo:
ATLANTIC GENERAL HOSPITAL is proud to provide the community with many qualified physicians within the ATLANTIC GENERAL HEALTH SYSTEM. If you are seeking a healthcare provider, please contact ATLANTIC GENERAL HOSPITAL.S PHYSICIAN REFERRAL LINE at 410-629-1500.