"One woman in eight who lives to age 85 will develop breast cancer during her lifetime". So reads another grim medical statistic. Breast cancer is the leading cause of death for women between the ages of 40 and 55, but what are biomedical engineers doing to save lives? For starters, they've made it easier for doctors to detect cancer cells at an earlier stage, allowing for more aggressive treatment. Today, companies such as Siemens and GE Healthcare have improved imaging technology so much that doctors can capture images that they once thought were unattainable.
MRI, Digital Mammography and Ultrasound
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), digital mammographies, and breast ultrasound are three technologies that have helped oncologists detect breast cancer sooner and with a greater degree of accuracy. Digital mammography alone can detect up to 28% more cancer than older methods. Digital mammography also enables doctors to take a closer look at medical images. Medical equipment such as Siemens' MAMMOMAT® NovationDR also provides biopsy and diagnostics capabilities. Now, oncologists can better diagnose different types of lesions, tumors, and pre-cancerous conditions.
Benign or Malignant?
Good or bad? Benign or malignant? That's the question on everyone's mind when it comes to a tumor. In the past, it was harder to get an answer. Today, medical devices such as Siemens' Biograph™ PET∙CT help doctors get the facts. The PET indicates the type of tumor that a patient has. The CT scan identifies the location of the tumor with great accuracy. The Siemens Biograph PET CT also helps doctors determine the axillary nodal involvement with the cancer cells. In this way, oncologists can better diagnose the stage of the cancer and determine an appropriate course of treatment.
Emerging Technologies
Emerging technologies in medical imaging include a prototype breast tomosynthesis system and new PET∙CT technologies such as TrueV. With the TrueV, doctors can get clearer, more in-depth information about the human body. The breast tomosynthesis will help medical professionals discover previously-undetectable subtle mass lesions. As more medical breakthroughs become available, look for updates right here on CR4.
Resources and Other Information
Check out these resources for more information about breast cancer, medical imaging, and diagnostic methods.
Women's Health Virtual Image (Book)
A good source of knowledge on the different devices being used to help breast cancer along with facts on breast cancer
GE Healthcare - Women's Healthcare – Mammography
Overview of mammographic imaging, etc.
Scienceblog.com
Highlights of some universities' research on breast cancer and imaging.
http://www.scienceblog.com/community/older/2003/E/20032388.html
Articles on Biomedical Imaging at RPI
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