New ultrasound technology could save lives of women with dense breast tissue
University of Southern California Health News Sep 07, 2017
A new research project at the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center is recruiting women with dense breast tissue to examine the effectiveness of a novel breast ultrasound device. SoftVue is the worldÂs first 3–D, whole–breast ultrasound system that might better assist physicians in distinguishing normal breast tissue from cancers.
ÂWhile mammography is the best screening tool for women, we have known for years that breast cancers are much more difficult to see in women with dense breasts, said Mary Yamashita, assistant professor of clinical radiology and the national principal investigator of the research project. ÂOur hope is that this technology will enable us to detect cancers much sooner in women with dense breast tissue so that we can provide better outcomes for those with cancer and peace of mind for those with a negative study.Â
More than 40 percent of women nationwide have dense breast tissue, which is unrelated to weight or breast size. Because dense breasts can mask potential cancers on mammography, the sensitivity for detecting cancer is lower in women with dense breasts. Studies have shown that in dense breasts, ultrasound can detect cancers not seen on mammography; however, traditional hand–held ultrasound exams can be time–consuming and often operator–dependent. They also have a high rate of false positives, resulting in unnecessary biopsies and added cost to the health care system.
In contrast, SoftVue is a faster, more automated and gentler system that conducts scans while a woman relaxes on her stomach with her breast supported in a warm water bath. A 360–degree ring transducer images the entire breast in a single pass, moving from the front of the breast to the chest wall. The entire scan takes about two to four minutes per breast, and there is no radiation exposure or compression of the breast. Unlike hand–held ultrasound, SoftVue can provide multiple distinctive tissue qualities to radiologists, allowing them to differentiate possible cancers from normal to benign findings.
The 10,000–patient nationwide clinical trial will be open at eight sites across the United States.
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ÂWhile mammography is the best screening tool for women, we have known for years that breast cancers are much more difficult to see in women with dense breasts, said Mary Yamashita, assistant professor of clinical radiology and the national principal investigator of the research project. ÂOur hope is that this technology will enable us to detect cancers much sooner in women with dense breast tissue so that we can provide better outcomes for those with cancer and peace of mind for those with a negative study.Â
More than 40 percent of women nationwide have dense breast tissue, which is unrelated to weight or breast size. Because dense breasts can mask potential cancers on mammography, the sensitivity for detecting cancer is lower in women with dense breasts. Studies have shown that in dense breasts, ultrasound can detect cancers not seen on mammography; however, traditional hand–held ultrasound exams can be time–consuming and often operator–dependent. They also have a high rate of false positives, resulting in unnecessary biopsies and added cost to the health care system.
In contrast, SoftVue is a faster, more automated and gentler system that conducts scans while a woman relaxes on her stomach with her breast supported in a warm water bath. A 360–degree ring transducer images the entire breast in a single pass, moving from the front of the breast to the chest wall. The entire scan takes about two to four minutes per breast, and there is no radiation exposure or compression of the breast. Unlike hand–held ultrasound, SoftVue can provide multiple distinctive tissue qualities to radiologists, allowing them to differentiate possible cancers from normal to benign findings.
The 10,000–patient nationwide clinical trial will be open at eight sites across the United States.
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