Breast MRI Technology Enables Enhanced Breast Cancer Detection

A fully automated morphologic system has been designed for the detection and analysis by a radiologist of suspicious breast lesions.

The launch of Invivo Corp.'s (Orlando, FL, USA) ONCAD for DynaCAD marks the availability of the first U.S. food and Drug Demonstration (FDA)-cleared, system, presented in December 2009 at the Radiological Society of North America 2009 annual meeting in Chicago, IL, USA.

Developed in partnership with leading experts in breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ONCAD for DynaCAD uses a patented mathematical algorithm to analyze the entire breast and draw a physician's attention to abnormal morphology during a contrast-enhanced breast MRI. Not only ONCAD's fractal mathematics and proprietary algorithms enhance the detection of both invasive and noninvasive lesions, but also the approach delineates the extent of the disease by measuring margin sharpness to determine the degree of lesion vascularization. The suspicious lesions are marked with a color overlay, light pink for moderate suspicion and dark pink for highly suspicious lesions, an important data point in a physician's assessment.

Studies have shown that while breast MRI procedures are cost-effective screening techniques for high-risk patients and have a higher sensitivity than mammography, the many images generated have low specificity. ONCAD provides physicians with an objective quantification of the margins of suspicious lesions by employing shape- and texture-based filters to improve specificity. The results are integrated in an automated DynaCAD hanging. Because ONCAD provides physicians with more visual information, they are able to detect suspicious lesions that may be imperceptible to the human eye, thereby improving their diagnostic confidence.

The introduction of ONCAD for DynaCAD is one of several advanced clinical solutions recently brought to market by Invivo Corporation. Early in 2009, Invivo unveiled their DynaCAD for Prostate solution, combining new analysis and interventional options for patients with elevated or rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels and negative transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided biopsy results. DynaCAD for Prostate provides the physician with a comprehensive, customizable set of visualization tools for performing real time analysis of prostate MRI studies. DynaCAD for Prostate and DynaTRIM then enable a physician to conduct targeted MRI interventions of suspicious areas within the prostate gland, reducing the number of cores acquired during biopsy. Compared to published cancer yield rates of up to 15% with third TRUS-guided biopsies, DynaCAD for Prostate produces a 59% detection rate with a maximum of four MRI-guided biopsy cores.

In 2009, Invivo announced the release of three new technologies: their Luminescence Breast Coil System, DynaCAD version 2.1 with QuickClick Segmentation, and DynaSuite Neuro Advanced MR Workstation.

Invivo designed the Luminescence Breast Coil system, a modular diagnostic and interventional coil set that provides improved image uniformity, and performance and superior signal to noise ratio. The 16-channel system provides quality images, ease of use, and excellent patient experience as breast MRI procedures increase for screening high-risk populations.

DynaCAD version 2.1 with QuickClick Segmentation was previewed at the RSNA annual meeting in 2008. The software platform maintains the core functionalities that offer speed, power, flexibility, features quantification tools, rendering, and BI-RADS Reporting making it easier for a physician to read MRI studies and generate reports. QuickClick Segmentation offers a visualization system with automated site-specific measurements, snapshots, and finding reports while maintaining the ability for a physician to customize their reading and reporting style.

The DynaSuite Neuro Advanced MR Workstation is a high-performance solution for the -rapid and repeatable interpretation of MR Neuro images. The solution is capable of integrating anatomical, functional MRI (fMRI), and three-dimensional (3D) vascular imaging with basic analysis to produce a dynamic, 3D model within the SmartFusion review.

Invivo is a pioneer of progressive MRI coils, clinical visualization systems, and MRI-compatible interventional devices. Invivo designs, manufactures, and markets value-added medical instruments that enhance MR image quality, improving physicians' diagnostic confidence and patients' imaging experience.

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