Dense
breasts can make it challenging to detect breast cancer during annual
screenings, as overlapping tissue can hide or mimic breast cancer, even with
digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) exams. Breast density assessment has
traditionally been determined by the radiologist’s visual assessment, but
studies show that these can vary, and clinicians may even disagree with their
own assessment year to year.[1] This can be confusing for patients,
lead to unnecessary additional imaging, and increase patient and facility
costs.
iCAD
recently introduced an updated version of PowerLook® Density Assessment
software on the new PowerLook 10 platform. The latest generation of PowerLook
Density Assessment is the world’s first and only multi-vendor, deep learning
automated breast density assessment algorithm using synthetic images generated
from 3D mammography.[2],[3]
PowerLook
Density Assessment software removes the challenges of subjectivity in breast
density reporting. Using full field digital mammography (FFDM) or synthetic 2D
images, it analyzes the dispersion and texture of breast tissue, delivering
clinicians a consistent, accurate, and reliable patient-specific breast density
assessment. This
leading-edge software identifies
the patient’s anatomy, segments the breast, then measures adipose and
fibroglandular tissue and its dispersion to determine the density category in alignment with BI-RADS® 5th Edition lexicon. Its consistent
scores bring confident density assessment and standardized stratification in
density-based breast cancer screening and reporting.
“Radiologist visual density assessment has
suboptimal intra- and inter- observer agreement due to its visual, subjective
assessment.1 This inconsistent reporting causes
confusion, impacts patient care and derails referring physician and patient
confidence,” said Randy Hicks, M.D., co-owner and CEO of Regional Medical
Imaging in Michigan. “With PowerLook Density Assessment software, clinicians
can feel confident in their patients’ density assessment. This solution is easy
to integrate and implement, and is the ideal choice for those seeking to
accurately automate density assessment and harmonize the patient
experience.”
Density is a measure used to
personalize screening, especially in the U.S., as the American College of
Radiology recommends that supplemental imaging should be considered for women
with dense breasts. Breast density is one of the strongest and most prevalent
breast cancer risk factors;[4] nearly half of all women
age 40 and older who get mammograms are found to have dense breasts.[5]
“Early
cancer detection has a tremendous impact on women, from treatment to outcomes. This
technology empowers clinicians to personalize screening like never before,” said
Stacey Stevens,
President of iCAD, Inc. “The commercialization of this technology is a giant leap
forward in individualized patient care.”
Currently, 38 U.S. states require some
form of density reporting[6] and the FDA has proposed
requiring breast density reporting to both patients and referring health
providers.[7] Visit this link for the latest
updates on national dense breast legislation, and visit this link to see the full list
of states where dense breast legislation has been passed.
[1] Sprague B, Conant E,
Onega T et al. Variation
in Mammographic Breast Density Assessments Among Radiologists in Clinical
Practice: A Multicenter Observational Study. Ann Intern Med. 2016;
165(7):457-464. doi:10.7326/M15-2934.
[2] Based on publicly
available data as of September 2021. For GE and Hologic only. Uses 2D synthetic
images.
[3] iCAD data on file.
[4] Engmann NJ, Golmakani MK, Miglioretti DL,
Sprague BL, Kerlikowske K, Breast Cancer Surveillance C.
Population-Attributable Risk Proportion of Clinical Risk Factors for Breast
Cancer. JAMA Oncology 2017; 3:1228-1236.
[5] National Cancer Institute. Dense Breasts:
Answers to Commonly Asked Questions. Accessed via https://www.cancer.gov/types/breast/breast-changes/dense-breasts.
[6] State Legislation
Map. DenseBreast-Info.org. Accessed via https://densebreast-info.org/legislative-information/state-legislation-map/
[7] National Reporting Standard. DenseBreast-Info.org. Accessed via
https://densebreast-info.org/legislative-information/national-reporting-standard/