Diagnostic Multimodality Breast Imaging Workstation Software Improves Radiologist Productivity

With new diagnostic software, radiologists may now review breast images from any modality in combination with review of mammography images. The ability to define the orientation and sequence of views in an exam, what radiologists call hanging protocols, can now be defined for different modalities, and our workflow keypad has been integrated with the multimodality viewer to allow for more efficient review of cases.

Hologic, Inc. (Bedford, MA, USA), a developer, manufacturer, and supplier of diagnostics, medical imaging systems, and surgical products focused on serving the healthcare needs of women, has developed SecurView DX multimodality diagnostic mammography workstation software.

The Hologic SecurView workstation is a platform for review of digital mammography images. With the release of version 7-0-0, the workflow benefits of the SecurView workstation have been extended to the multimodality viewer. Radiologists may now review breast images from any modality in concert with review of mammography images.

Moreover, the new software builds on the strengths of the Hologic SecurView workstation by offering a greatly expanded set of functions designed to improve mammographic reading workflow. One of the functions, a new visualization tool called Advanced Image Enhancement (AIE), is used to apply proprietary wavelet-based image processing within the magnifier window. In a clinical study, AIE processing improved the ability to visualize abnormalities, particularly in dense breast tissue.

The multimodality viewing options can be expanded with Hologic's new magnetic resonance (MR)-CADWorks package for computer-added detection (CAD) review of breast MRI images, including a full suite of tools to allow for analysis of kinetics, or wash-in and washout of contrast agent over time. All processing of MRI images is performed locally so that images can be displayed in different presentation formats dynamically. With the addition of the new multimodality and MR-CADWorks options to the SecurView mammography software, the SecurView workstation offers a comprehensive review of all breast-imaging modalities in one integrated platform.

"The ability to instantly process with the MR-CADWorks software has increased my efficiency,” said Kara L. Carlson, M.D., a radiologist with Radia Medical Imaging and medical director of Evergreen Hospital's Breast Center (Kirkland, WA, USA). "The flexibility to dynamically change the presentation layout and the ability to utilize the kinetics analysis software, have been valuable tools to improve my breast MRI interpretation.”

"We are excited to be introducing the new multimodality and MR-CADWorks options as part of the rollout of Hologic's SecurView version 7-0-0,” said Dave Mislan, product manager--breast imaging for Hologic. "These new features, along with the on-going advances in workflow efficiency, ability to view mammography images from all vendors, and advanced R2 CAD features, uniquely position SecurView as a comprehensive breast imaging workstation.”

Hologic's core business units are focused on breast health, diagnostics, gynecologic, surgical, and skeletal health. Hologic provides a range of technologies with products for mammography and breast biopsy, radiation treatment for early-stage breast cancer, cervical cancer screening, treatment for menorrhagia, permanent contraception, osteoporosis assessment, preterm birth risk assessment, mini C-arm for extremity imaging and molecular diagnostic products including human papillomavirus (HPV), and reagents for a variety of DNA and RNA analysis applications.

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