Grand View Hospital invests in new 3D ultrasound imaging technology
August 07, 2013
DOTmed: Tell us about this purchase.
First and only healthcare organization in the region to offer the most advanced method of scanning dense breast tissue quickly and painlessly
Grand View Hospital has recently acquired an innovative new ultrasound imaging system designed to provide three-dimensional views of breast tissue for use in breast cancer screenings. The ACUSON S2000™ Automated Breast Volume Scanner (ABVS) is a breakthrough in depicting anomalies in dense glandular breast tissue, the type of tissue that makes up most of the breast structure of more than half of women under 50.
Breast density is one of the strongest predictors of failure to detect cancer through traditional mammography screening. For women with dense breast tissue, abnormalities -- such as cysts or tumors -- can blend in with the white areas of glandular tissue on a mammogram, making them difficult to distinguish. Providing full-field volumes of the entire breast in just ten minutes, the ABVS technology provides a clear, slice-by-slice view of the entire breast—a perspective currently unavailable using conventional ultrasound technologies.
“The AVBS provides more comprehensive views of the entire breast, including the coronal plane, which is a view that’s well-suited for depicting anomalies in dense breast tissue and one that we haven’t been able to access using other sonographic technologies,” says radiologist David Levin, DO. “As a supplemental exam, whole-breast ultrasound will allow us to make a more confident diagnosis since we’ll be able to see lesions we would have missed using mammography alone.”
Patients who have been told they have dense breast tissue during a regular mammogram may be candidates for 3D-ultrasound screening as part of Grand View Hospital’s new screening procedure. This examination is designed to be a supplement and is not intended to replace annual screening mammograms. Ultrasounds, along with stereotactic needle biopsies and MRI scans, are an additional way of further testing for the presence of cancer. Initial reports from patients who have received an ABVS ultrasound indicate that the procedure is quick and comfortable, as there is less compression to the patient’s breast than with a traditional mammogram.
“With advanced technology and diagnostic tools like the ACUSON S2000 ABVS, we are able to enhance the level of care that we provide our patients,” says Gerald Bedard, Senior Director of Imaging Services. “Grand View’s commitment to improving our diagnostic approach to breast cancer led us to acquire this unique system—the only one that’s available in our service area—making supplemental breast scanning easier and more comfortable for our patients than ever before.
Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women. In 2008, more than 182,000 new cases were diagnosed in the United States, which resulted in more than 40,000 deaths, according to Global Cancer Facts and Figures 2008. It is also one of the most treatable types of cancer, averaging a five-year survival rate of 90 percent when caught early.
The ACUSON S2000 ABVS ultrasound system is just one of the tools that is expanding the clinical insight into breast care. Ultrasound is an important supplement to the traditional mammogram and a growing field of study for complete breast health protection. The key to fighting breast cancer still lies in early detection. The American Cancer Society and the American Medical Association recommend a mammography screening once a year for every woman over the age of 40. Women interested in a supplemental screening using the ACUSON S2000 ABVS at Grand View should contact their physicians.
DOTmed: Any final thoughts?
Grand View Hospital, Bucks County’s first hospital, has provided residents of Bucks and Montgomery Counties with comprehensive health care services since 1913. Now a century strong, Grand View offers a range of care – particularly emphasizing the areas of cancer treatment, women's and children's health, surgery, orthopaedics, and heart and vascular care. Visit www.gvh.org for more information about the hospital, its programs, and services.
First and only healthcare organization in the region to offer the most advanced method of scanning dense breast tissue quickly and painlessly
Grand View Hospital has recently acquired an innovative new ultrasound imaging system designed to provide three-dimensional views of breast tissue for use in breast cancer screenings. The ACUSON S2000™ Automated Breast Volume Scanner (ABVS) is a breakthrough in depicting anomalies in dense glandular breast tissue, the type of tissue that makes up most of the breast structure of more than half of women under 50.
Breast density is one of the strongest predictors of failure to detect cancer through traditional mammography screening. For women with dense breast tissue, abnormalities -- such as cysts or tumors -- can blend in with the white areas of glandular tissue on a mammogram, making them difficult to distinguish. Providing full-field volumes of the entire breast in just ten minutes, the ABVS technology provides a clear, slice-by-slice view of the entire breast—a perspective currently unavailable using conventional ultrasound technologies.
“The AVBS provides more comprehensive views of the entire breast, including the coronal plane, which is a view that’s well-suited for depicting anomalies in dense breast tissue and one that we haven’t been able to access using other sonographic technologies,” says radiologist David Levin, DO. “As a supplemental exam, whole-breast ultrasound will allow us to make a more confident diagnosis since we’ll be able to see lesions we would have missed using mammography alone.”
Patients who have been told they have dense breast tissue during a regular mammogram may be candidates for 3D-ultrasound screening as part of Grand View Hospital’s new screening procedure. This examination is designed to be a supplement and is not intended to replace annual screening mammograms. Ultrasounds, along with stereotactic needle biopsies and MRI scans, are an additional way of further testing for the presence of cancer. Initial reports from patients who have received an ABVS ultrasound indicate that the procedure is quick and comfortable, as there is less compression to the patient’s breast than with a traditional mammogram.
“With advanced technology and diagnostic tools like the ACUSON S2000 ABVS, we are able to enhance the level of care that we provide our patients,” says Gerald Bedard, Senior Director of Imaging Services. “Grand View’s commitment to improving our diagnostic approach to breast cancer led us to acquire this unique system—the only one that’s available in our service area—making supplemental breast scanning easier and more comfortable for our patients than ever before.
Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women. In 2008, more than 182,000 new cases were diagnosed in the United States, which resulted in more than 40,000 deaths, according to Global Cancer Facts and Figures 2008. It is also one of the most treatable types of cancer, averaging a five-year survival rate of 90 percent when caught early.
The ACUSON S2000 ABVS ultrasound system is just one of the tools that is expanding the clinical insight into breast care. Ultrasound is an important supplement to the traditional mammogram and a growing field of study for complete breast health protection. The key to fighting breast cancer still lies in early detection. The American Cancer Society and the American Medical Association recommend a mammography screening once a year for every woman over the age of 40. Women interested in a supplemental screening using the ACUSON S2000 ABVS at Grand View should contact their physicians.
DOTmed: Any final thoughts?
Grand View Hospital, Bucks County’s first hospital, has provided residents of Bucks and Montgomery Counties with comprehensive health care services since 1913. Now a century strong, Grand View offers a range of care – particularly emphasizing the areas of cancer treatment, women's and children's health, surgery, orthopaedics, and heart and vascular care. Visit www.gvh.org for more information about the hospital, its programs, and services.