Gamma Medica, Volpara Solutions partner to improve breast cancer screening

ProMedica Breast Care at Toledo Hospital Using Volumetric Density and Molecular Breast Imaging to Improve Screening of Women with Dense Breasts

Gamma Medica, developer of advanced digital molecular imaging technologies for the detection of breast cancer, is pleased to announce a new strategic partnership with Volpara Solutions, leaders in the development of quantitative breast imaging tools. By using these technologies in parallel, physicians can implement screening protocols based on a woman’s breast density and individual risk factors.

Breast tissue density has not only been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer, it also decreases the sensitivity of mammography and thereby may impact early detection.  Thirty-five percent of breast cancer goes undetected by mammography in women with dense breasts, as dense tissue masks the appearance of tumors (Boyd et al 2007, NEJM).  The measurement of breast density has conventionally relied on visual assessment by a radiologist, a subjective process prone to variability.

VolparaDensity generates an objective, automatic measurement of volumetric breast density to help radiologists assess breast density objectively and Gamma Medica’s LumaGEM Molecular Breast Imaging (MBI) system is a highly sensitive secondary diagnostic tool that can detect lesions as small as five millimeters. ProMedica Breast Care Center at Toledo Hospital is using both technologies to support a new imaging protocol to improve breast cancer screening for women with dense breasts.

“These two technologies work hand in hand to create a more consistent and accurate screening program for our patients, particularly meaningful for women with dense breasts. Volpara standardizes how we identify which patients have clinically specified dense breasts and Gamma Medica’s MBI technology helps us find potential masses that could not be found with a traditional mammogram.  Since starting our MBI screening program, we have been finding nine additional cancers per 1,000 patients,” said Robin Shermis, M.D., Medical Director, ProMedica Breast Care and member of Toledo Radiological Associates.

While breast MRI is often indicated for high risk women, nearly 75 percent of women diagnosed with cancer do not have a family history.  With sensitivity and specificity that approaches that of breast MRI, the LumaGEM MBI system is a powerful supplemental screening tool when screening mammography is inconclusive, such as in women with dense breast tissue or for high risk women who cannot have a MRI.

“This consistent, standardized approach to density assessment and supplemental imaging is very important to reassure women that they have been thoroughly assessed and vectored to the imaging tool best suited to improve the early detection of cancer, based on their breast density and individual risk factors,” added Dr. Shermis.

“Gamma Medica is looking forward to working closely with Volpara Solutions to better provide women with dense breast tissue the best imaging tools and technology available. By joining forces, we are now in an even better position to help detect breast cancer quicker and earlier and standardize the level of care,” said Jim Calandra, CEO, Gamma Media.

“We are proud to provide the industry leading solution that helps radiologists to ensure that every patient who gets a mammogram has the benefit of an objective volumetric density measurement to help support progressive screening programs such as the one at the ProMedica Breast Care Center using Gamma Medica’s MBI technology,” said Ralph Highnam, CEO, Volpara Solutions.