CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Gamma Medica, a leader in molecular breast imaging (MBI) technology, today announced several 2016 achievements for its LumaGEM Molecular Breast Imaging system at this year’s Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting (booth #2871). Over the past year, this MBI system has grown in national prominence and expanded its user base through a major educational campaign on breast density called Be Certain and by driving irrefutable clinical results featured in a breakthrough clinical study.
Specifically, Gamma Medica delivered critical attention to the issue of breast density in cancer screenings through the following:
- Spearheading the educational Be Certain campaign to educate women about dense breast tissue and secondary screening options
- LumaGEM was featured in a breakthrough clinical study that proved the benefits of MBI vs. mammograms for women with dense breasts (nearly 50 percent of U.S. women)
- Announced high-profile installations at medical centers nationwide, including Henry Ford Health System (Michigan), Mayo Clinic Health System (Minnesota, Arizona and Florida locations)
- MBI’s benefits were featured in the national media, including NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt, Glamour Magazine, WEtv and major trade magazines, including Becker’s Hospital Review and Radiology Today, before, during and following Breast Cancer Awareness Month
“This year’s clinical reinforcement combined with our partnerships with major health systems and expanding share of voice collectively underscore how we are spreading critically needed awareness not just about breast density in general, but about LumaGEM MBI,” said Philip Croxford, Gamma Medica president and CEO. “Through creating this awareness, we are giving more women access to the most advanced and accurate breast screening tool available for all breast tissue types, enabling them to personalize their health care and allowing earlier detection and better outcomes when cancer is found.”
Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death in women, with 40,000 annual breast cancer deaths in the U.S. alone. Almost 50 percent of women in the U.S. are diagnosed with dense breast tissue. Unfortunately, not only do many not realize they have dense breasts, but they may not understand what it means for their risk of breast cancer. There may be cases where a woman with dense breasts received a negative mammogram, however she is later diagnosed with breast cancer. Dense breast tissue and cancer both appear white on mammograms, sometimes making it difficult to distinguish between the two. This can lead to false negatives or delayed diagnoses.
The LumaGEM is a proven imaging modality that will improve early and accurate breast cancer detection for women who face a greater risk of missed detection in mammograms and other screening modalities. Recent studies have confirmed that MBI highlights metabolic activity in breast tumors not visible on mammograms due to tissue density, leading to earlier diagnosis. Clinical research also shows use of LumaGEM reduces biopsies, often painful and costly, by 50 percent compared to other modalities. A breakthrough retrospective study, involving over 1,700 women with dense breast tissue over a three year period, was published in the American Journal of Roentgenology’s August issue confirmed LumaGEM’s high incremental cancer detection rate of 7.7 cancers per thousand (7.7/1000), this compares with published data for primary mammography screening alone of 3/1000. The study also concluded that – when MBI was used as a secondary screening modality – the total number of cancers found was approximately 12/1000. Approximately 85 percent of these cancers were also confirmed as invasive and node negative, indicating they were detected at an early stage and therefore presented a better prognosis.
To educate women this year about the importance of MBI and breast density, Gamma Medica launched the Be Certain campaign, which aims to give physicians and women access to the most accurate clinical information on breast density and breast cancer detection. In addition to education, Gamma Medica is committed to increasing the number of accurate early breast cancer screenings through installations at major facilities like Henry Ford. Every woman deserves to Be Certain about her breast health and have access to the latest diagnostic tools to help reduce late diagnosis and improve patient clinical outcomes.
About Gamma Medica, Inc.
Gamma Medica, Inc. is a women’s
health company focused on overcoming the limitations of anatomical
imaging experienced by mammography and other screening modalities in the
early detection of breast cancer. The company’s LumaGEM® MBI system is
the first commercially available, FDA-cleared, fully solid-state digital
imaging system utilizing dual-head Digital Direct Conversion Gamma
Imaging™ (DDCGI™) technology for molecular breast imaging. With over 90
percent sensitivity and specificity, LumaGEM MBI has been shown to
significantly improve cancer detection in women with dense breast tissue
with fewer false positives relative to anatomical imaging technologies,
such as MRI and whole breast ultrasound. For more information visit, www.gammamedica.com.
