AuntMinnie.com Women's Imaging Insider

Allegretto Amerigo Headshot

Dear AuntMinnie Member,

Supplemental breast imaging is in the spotlight as radiologists continue to find ways to improve breast cancer detection while avoiding increased workflow burden for physicians. And this could involve advanced imaging approaches.

A team out of South Korea explored the potential of an ultrafast MRI-based radiomics model in serving as a breast imaging biomarker. It found that this method can classify hormone receptors, HER2 status, and molecular subtypes compared to standard MRI. Read what else the researchers found in this editionโ€™s featured story.

Also in the breast MRI arena, research published this month found that women with BRCA1/2 germline mutations are often denied breast MRI despite the exam being recommended for this population. Plus, another recent study covered how a deep-learning system with dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) can predict pathological complete response in breast cancer patients.

In other news, researchers from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, WA, found that women of varying races and ethnicities experience disproportionately higher increases in breast cancer rates -- and that older Asian or Pacific Islander, Black, and Hispanic women often experience higher incidences of aggressive breast cancer subtypes.

On January 3, the Surgeon Generalโ€™s office put out an advisory that warned clinicians about alcohol-related cancers, including breast cancer. Experts who spoke with AuntMinnie.com said that, with this in mind, radiologists could take on a counseling role with their patients.

A couple of studies meanwhile assessed the performance and value of contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM). These included CEM having a slightly higher glandular dose than that of conventional mammography and digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) and CEM-based radiomics models that predict breast biopsy outcomes.

In AI-related news, research out of Germany found that compared with standard double reading, AI-supported double reading led to more breast cancers being detected without leading to significantly higher recall rates. Speaking of AI, experts who spoke with AuntMinnie.com said that CPT codes for imaging AI services, such as those performed in breast imaging, are needed for physician reimbursement.

Finally, a study conducted by a team from the University of Ottawa in Canada reported that starting breast cancer screening at age 40 is effective both in improving patient outcomes and in reducing costs. The researchers also highlighted digital mammography as a cost-effective tool in reducing breast cancer mortality.

Are there any new studies or topics in womenโ€™s imaging you feel should be given attention? Feel free to drop us a line! As always, be sure to check out our Womenโ€™s Imaging content area for the latest news and trends in this specialty.

Amerigo Allegretto
Associate Editor
AuntMinnie.com

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