Today, The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave clearance to Royal Philips Electronics the first full-field digital mammography (FFDM) system on the market known as the MicroDose SI system.
This system has the capability to enable future Single-Shot Spectral Imaging applications. According to the company, they are working on future software applications such as the Spectral Breast Density Measurement, which will build upon the MicroDose SI technology.
Women with high breast density are four to five times more likely to get breast cancer compared to those with low breast density. Since high breast density blocks X-rays, clinicians have more difficulty interpreting breast images. Because of this, categorization of breast density has become mandatory in countries and several states in the US. Currently, there is not a standardized method for assessing breast density, which causes the categorization of breast density to be nearly useless for clinical decisions. Since the most frequently used method of breast density assessment is manual and visual inspection of the image, radiologists may give different scoring of breast density for the same image.
“Philips believes that spectral-imaging technology will be important in helping clinicians to assess breast density and provide personalized care to women,” Lakshmi Gudapakkam, Senior Vice President & General Manager of Diagnostic X-ray and Mammography Solutions at Philips Healthcare said in a statement. “With the MicroDose SI, Philips contributes to breast cancer screening by delivering the same low dose, high image quality and ergonomics it already offers, while supplying clinicians with spectral-ready technology.”
Key advantages of the MicroDose SI include high image quality at low X-rays dose, short exam time, patient comfort with anatomically curved and warmed breast support, and ready for future Single-Shot Spectral Imaging applications.
“The Philips MicroDose SI technology shows great potential,” Etta Pisano, MD, Dean of the College of Medicine and the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) said. “I look forward to getting the unit installed at MUSC.”
Source: Royal Philips Electronics
Last Updated: 2/28/13; 3:55PM EST