Science Current Events | Science News | Brightsurf.com
 
Email a Friend Send to a friend
Printer Friendly Print Ultrasound plus mammography finds more cancers, but increases false positives

Ultrasound plus mammography finds more cancers, but increases false positives

October 01, 2007

CHAPEL HILL - Adding ultrasound to mammography finds more cancers than mammography alone, but also substantially increases the number of false positives, according to first-year results from a three-year study of the two tests.

"At this point, it's not clear whether the benefit provided by ultrasound outweighs the additional expense, stress and inconvenience caused by the false positives," said study co-author Etta Pisano, M.D., vice dean for academic affairs in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Kenan professor of radiology and biomedical engineering and director of the UNC Biomedical Research Imaging Center.




"We know that ultrasound does find more cancers. The question is, does it find enough more cancers to make it worthwhile"" she said.

The results were presented today (Sept. 28) at the American College of Radiology's fall meeting in Washington, D.C.

The study's principal investigator and lead author is Wendie A. Berg, M.D., Ph.D., of American Radiology Services, located at Johns Hopkins at Greenspring Station in Lutherville, Md. UNC Hospitals is one of the primary study sites, with an enrollment of 198 women (7.5 percent of the study participants).

In the study, 2,637 women at high risk for breast cancer received both mammography and ultrasound exams. The tests were performed by physicians who received special training in breast ultrasound screening. Among the participants, 41 breast cancers were found in 40 women (one had cancer in both breasts) by one or both of the tests. Twelve of the cancers were found by ultrasound alone.

The addition of ultrasound resulted in 136 (5.2 percent) women having biopsies due to suspicion of cancer. Of these women, 14 or 8.5 percent were diagnosed with breast cancer.

Based on these results, the authors concluded that adding ultrasound to mammography will find approximately an additional one to seven cancers per 1,000 high-risk women who had not previously been screened by ultrasound, but will also substantially increase the number of false positives.

"We had hoped to see a bigger effect of ultrasound compared to mammography," Pisano said. "But I think these results show it's a mixed picture at this point."

Pisano said that the study will add magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exams in its third year, allowing researchers to directly compare the effectiveness of MRI, ultrasound and mammography.

"At that point we will have good data on the cost-effectiveness of MRI versus ultrasound on top of mammography," she said. "That will be the definitive analysis."

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill



Related Ultrasound Current Events and Ultrasound News Articles Ultrasound Current Events and Ultrasound News RSS Ultrasound Current Events and Ultrasound News RSS
Microarray analysis improves prenatal diagnosis
A "chip" or array that can quickly detect disorders such as Down syndrome or other diseases associated with chromosomal abnormalities proved an effective tool in prenatal diagnosis in a series of 300 cases at Baylor College of Medicine, said researchers in a report that appears in the current issue of the journal Prenatal Diagnosis.

Low risk for heart attack? Could an ultrasound hold the answer?
By adding the results of an imaging technique to the traditional risk factors for coronary heart disease, doctors at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston found they were able to improve prediction of heart attacks in people previously considered low risk.

New technology could revolutionize breast cancer screening
The world's first radar breast imaging system developed at Bristol University that could revolutionise the way women are scanned for breast cancer, is being trialled at North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT).

Computer model improves ultrasound image
Doctors use diagnostic sonography or ultrasound to visualise organs and other internal structures of the human body.

Ultrasound shown to exert remote control of brain circuits
In a twist on nontraditional uses of ultrasound, a group of neuroscientists at Arizona State University has developed pulsed ultrasound techniques that can remotely stimulate brain circuit activity.

Jefferson Department of Surgery announces new pancreas tumor registry
Charles J. Yeo, M.D., Samuel D. Gross Professor and Chair, Department of Surgery at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, announces the establishment of the new Jefferson Pancreas Tumor Registry (JPTR).

Researchers propose new ultrasound screening criteria for diagnosing polycystic kidney disease
Modification of the current screening criteria are needed for diagnosing patients with autosomal dominant polycystic disease (ADPKD), according to a study appearing in the January 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology (JASN). The results suggest that some patients with a milder form of the disease may otherwise be misdiagnosed.

3-D doppler ultrasound helps identify breast cancer
Three-dimensional (3-D) power Doppler ultrasound helps radiologists distinguish between malignant and benign breast masses, according to a new study being published in the November issue of Radiology.

New devices used to reduce arterial occlusions, provide cardiac support, highlighted at TCT 2008
Research results highlighting three new devices used to reduce blockages in peripheral and coronary arteries and to provide cardiac support will be presented at the 20th annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium, sponsored by the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF).

Drug may reduce coronary artery plaque
Research presented at the 20th annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium, sponsored by the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF), suggests that olmesartan, a drug commonly used to treat high blood pressure, may play a role in reducing coronary plaque.
More Ultrasound Current Events and Ultrasound News Articles


Ultrasound: The Requisites (Requisites in Radiology)
by William D. Middleton, Alfred B. Kurtz

This new volume in the popular Radiology RequisitesT series efficiently presents all of the core knowledge in general, vascular, and obstetric/gynecologic ultrasound. It covers everything from basic principles through state-of-the-art tech-niques, with a focus on the specific information needed to pass the boards and practice radiology. Concise but compre-hensive, it is extremely easy to read,...



Emergency Ultrasound
by O. John Ma, James R. Mateer, Michael Blaivas

The pioneering emergency ultrasound guide--updated and expanded with coverage of the newest technologies Emergency Ultrasound is firmly established as the first state-of-the-art reference on the training, techniques, and diagnostic skills needed to perform successful ultrasound exams in the emergency department. Utilizing a templated chapter format, this trusted resource presents a wide...



Diagnostic Ultrasound: Principles and Instruments (Diagnostic Ultrasound: Principles & Instruments (Kremkau))
by Frederick W. Kremkau

A market leader and a highly respected reference, this text explains how diagnostic ultrasound works and helps readers scan safely, properly handle artifacts, evaluate instrument performance, and prepare for registry and board examinations. It covers all essential aspects of ultrasound physics, including Doppler, artifacts, safety, quality assurance, and the newest technologies. Information is...



Ultrasound Physics Review: A review for the Ultrasound Physics & Instrumentation ARDMS Exam
by cindy A. Owen, James A. Zagzebski



Fundamentals of Musculoskeletal Ultrasound (Fundamentals of Radiology)
by Jon A. Jacobson

FUNDAMENTALS OF MUSCULOSKELETAL ULTRASOUND packs a big punch for such a compact book. It teaches the resident, clinician and even medical student, how to perform and read musculoskeletal ultrasounds, while highlighting the basic anatomy needed to perform and interpret ultrasounds and the salient points needed to make diagnosis. Key anatomy, concepts, diseases and even controversies are...



Thyroid Ultrasound and Ultrasound-Guided FNA

Thyroid Ultrasound and Ultrasound-Guided FNA, Second Edition is a “user friendly” book, written specifically for the clinician, and offers a hands-on approach to using ultrasound in the evaluation and management of thyroid disease. It discusses new information regarding ultrasound and the subtleties one needs to know in the application of this technique. By using scores of ultrasound images,...



Pocket Protocols for Ultrasound Scanning, 2nd Edition
by Betty Bates Tempkin

Using a flip-card format, this compact guide provides protocols that take the guesswork out of image documentation. These comprehensive protocols follow the imaging guidelines of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) and include a universal method for documenting any type of pathology. Examples of the required images for the physician's diagnostic interpretation are included....



Exam Preparation for Diagnostic Ultrasound: Abdomen and OB/GYN (Lippincott's Review Series)
by Roger C Sanders, Jann Dolk, Nancy Smith Miner

Designed to both instruct and prepare individuals for certification examinations, this text offers two mock registry examinations as well as a succinct review of abdominal and OB/GYN ultrasound. A lively, interactive review format follows the ARDMS Guidelines for the Registry Examinations and provides: over 800 questions with detailed explanations for both correct and incorrect answers;...



Ultrasound of the Musculoskeletal System (Medical Radiology / Diagnostic Imaging)
by Stefano Bianchi, Carlo Martinoli

This book is a comprehensive reference and practical guide on the technology and application of ultrasound to the musculoskeletal system. It is organized into two main sections. The first is devoted to general aspects, while the second provides a systematic overview of the applications of musculoskeletal ultrasound in different areas of the body. Each chapter of the second section provides an...



Essentials Of Ultrasound Physics
by James A. Zagzebski

A concise, practical reference that can be a companion to Hagen-Ansert Textbook of Diagnostic Ultrasonography 4e, or used as a stand-alone resource for anyone interested in ultrasound physics. This easy-to-follow text works well as a primer for the Registry exam. Topics covered include broadband transducers, modern beam formers, dynamic frequency filtering, intraluminal transducers, color flow...

© 2008 BrightSurf.com