ROCHESTER, N.Y., March 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As innovations in cancer screening through diagnostic imaging continue to help clinicians accurately detect and diagnose, challenges to the ability to share large file sizes has increased.

The rise in usage of 3D mammograms has benefited patients, making it possible for radiologists to see breast tissue in greater detail and provide a more accurate diagnosis. But sharing these large image files has put a practical strain on technology resources. By partnering with eHealth Technologies—a leading imaging solutions provider for health information exchange—Rochester RHIO, the trusted resource for secure electronic health information for the Greater Rochester and Finger Lakes regions of Upstate New York, has made it possible for early adopters of this latest technology to easily view and share 3D mammograms.

Traditional 2D images take 2 images of the breast and are relatively small file sizes, as compared to 3D tomosynthesis mammograms—which obtain approximately 300 low-dose radiation images from different angles. Storage of file sizes as well as compatibility issues with sharing tomosynthesis images —or tomos—create a challenge for healthcare providers to offer this cutting-edge technology. eHealth Technologies has implemented a solution for Rochester RHIO participants that are high-volume, frontrunners of this new technology—like Elizabeth Wende Breast Care—to increase ease of viewing and secure sharing with other facilities.
eHealth Technologies was able to leverage its hybrid federated image sharing architecture to make these extraordinarily large format imaging files part of the normal flow of images across the region. Users can now access them directly through the Rochester RHIO clinical portal, overcoming previous limitations that these large images caused.

"As new technologies such as breast tomosynthesis are adopted, responding in a timely manner can be a challenge for members of the healthcare ecosystem," says Gary Larson, Executive Vice President, General Manager, HIE Solutions, eHealth Technologies. "eHealth Connect® Image Exchange has been designed to rapidly adapt to these innovations to the benefit of everyone, especially patients. We will continue to be responsive to other advances in medical imaging, and the changing landscape of how users manage, interact with, and share data through our platform."

Studies have found that screening with 3D mammography increases breast cancer detection rates by about 40% and 3D mammograms find more cancers than traditional 2D mammograms, especially for younger women. 3D mammograms also reduce the number of false-positives, a common criticism of 2D mammography.

Health IT Homepage