State-of-the-art breast cancer screening tools
Curved mammogram paddles. A faster and less expensive breast MRI. Artificial intelligence-aided tumor detection. At-home tests to determine your personal risk for breast cancer.
These are some of the newest technologies on the horizon or already in use at the University of Chicago Medicine. The academic health system recently expanded its breast imaging services, adding state-ofthe-art tools to improve accuracy, comfort and convenience.
The American Cancer Society expects an estimated 279,100 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 42,000 will die from the disease — making annual mammograms for women 40 and older and early detection critically important.
Breast-shaped paddles
To make mammograms more comfortable, UChicago Medicine uses SmartCurve, developed by Hologic, in partnership with Solis Mammography. This unique technology offers curved compression paddles and a SmartCurve Breast Stabilization System with 3D imaging. It can be used by the majority of women, except those with very small or large breasts or certain types of implants.
UChicago Medicine upgraded all of its mammogram machines to hightech 3D models in 2019 and added SmartCurve paddles to most of them. They're now offered at:
» UChicago Medicine Ingalls in Harvey, Tinley Park, Flossmoor and Calumet City » UChicago Medicine Orland Park
» Duchossois Center for Advanced Medicine (DCAM) in Hyde Park » UChicago Medicine River East
Upright AFFIRM biopsy system
A faster, less-intimidating breast biopsy is now offered at UChicago Medicine in Hyde Park and at UChicago Medicine Ingalls in Tinley Park and Harvey. Hologic’s new AFFIRM biopsy system allows patients to sit upright in a chair as a high-tech machine is centered over the breast, calculating the precise spot where the needle needs to be inserted. AFFIRM cuts the test time in half, to 15 to 30 minutes. Plus, doctors say it makes the whole procedure easier and more comfortable for patients.
SAVI SCOUT
This new technology — a wireless device the size of a grain of rice — is inserted into the breast to help surgeons accurately locate masses and tumors. It saves time and allows tumors to be removed with smaller incisions. SAVI SCOUT also reduces the amount of healthy breast tissue that's being removed, while increasing the probability of complete tumor removal. It's now being used at UChicago Medicine Ingalls in Harvey and Tinley Park.
QuantX
QuantX is a novel breast imaging analysis technology that helps analyze breast MRIs using artificial intelligence (AI) and a large reference database to help radiologists interpret results and identify cancerous and non-cancerous breast lesions.
The FDA recently cleared the new technology for use after a clinical study showed QuantX improved the discovery of breast cancer tumors by 39% and increased overall diagnostic improvement by 20%. The imaging team at UChicago Medicine is evaluating QuantX for future patient use.
Ultrafast Abbreviated MRI
Abbreviated MRI is a revolutionary technology developed by a UChicago team. It scans the breast every three seconds for about 10 minutes, completing the MRI in a fraction of the time than it normally takes.
The data acquired from Ultrafast Abbreviated MRI’s government-funded clinical trials at UChicago Medicine will be incorporated in large national trials. It is proving to be a reliable screening tool for high-risk women.
LITE MRI
A routine breast MRI involves the injection of a contrast agent (dye). While the contrast improves the image quality, there’s been some concern about its safety. At UChicago Medicine, a team is helping to develop a Low Dose Imaging Technique MRI, where less than one-fifth of the contrast is used to obtain the same quality images.