Rome Memorial Hospital adds software to aid early breast-cancer detection

ROME — Diagnosing breast cancer at its earliest stage, when it’s easiest to treat, has long been a challenging task for doctors. But, new imaging technology now available locally is making it easier.

  Rome Memorial Hospital announced Wednesday that it recently purchased new computer software to help its radiologists measure the density of a woman’s breast tissue during her routine mammogram. Research studies have identified breast density as a factor in assessing a woman’s risk for breast cancer and detecting it early, the hospital says.

Rome Memorial says it’s the second hospital in the region and the 100th worldwide to purchase the software, called Volpara, from New Zealand–based Matakina International, Ltd. Financial terms weren’t disclosed.

“Studies indicated that breast density classification was inconsistent when done without the aid of breast density software,” John Restivo, M.D., radiologist and chairman of the hospital’s Medical Imaging Department, said in a news release. “Now women can be confident in the accuracy of the breast density results because this software eliminates the subjectivity.”

The hospital says research estimates that 40 percent of women have dense breast tissue and are four to six times more likely to develop breast cancer. The dense breast tissue makes it difficult to detect breast cancer using a mammogram alone, because tumors and dense tissue both appear white on the black and white mammogram.

The Volpara technology uses algorithms to determine the density of the breast tissue from information contained in the mammogram, according to the release. Prior to the use of this new software, most radiologists relied solely on their subjective judgment when assessing the mammography image. 

“Calculating density with the Volpara software ensures that any measured change isn’t a function of a different radiologist reading the mammogram or using a different piece of equipment,” Restivo said in the release. “It’s a true change in the density of the breast tissue.”

The purchase of the Volpara software comes at a time when the issue of breast density and its impact on cancer detection in a mammogram has gained state and national attention, according to Sharon Carson, Rome Memorial’s director of medical imaging.

“New York State recently passed legislation which requires all imaging centers to notify patients who have higher breast density that additional tests may be recommended,” Carson said.   “We applaud this legislation as it provides women with more information about their risk factors.”

The hospital says its digital mammography services are now available at its Women’s Imaging Center at 1500 N. James St., Rome.

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