Healthcare Imaging & IT - July 2008 - (Page 20)

special section cad’s impact on radiology By Lisa Fratt Mammography CAD Comes of Age Since its introduction in the analog era, CAD has provided a critical second eye, helping mammographers detect more cancers, earlier and in a cost-effective manner. It’s a win-win situation. As more sites transition to digital mammography, CAD transcends its early promise and delivers additional workflow benefits. This month, Health Imaging and IT visits with two mammography CAD pioneers to learn more about the benefits of CAD in the digital era. As new CAD technologies emerge and hint of increasing clinical confidence and workflow advantages, the granddaddy of CAD applications—mammography CAD—continues to prove its merit in a shifting breast imaging world. The radiology community has accepted Digital Mammographic Interpretation Screening Trial (DMIST) results and looks forward to new imaging solutions like breast tomosynthesis. During the upheaval, one standard has remained steady; CAD remains a mammographer’s good friend. gists’ workflow in the digital environment. Ruiz explains, “The CAD marks simply pop up on the digital images. Our eyes never leave the image, so eye fatigue is reduced.” In an analog department, the CAD output is displayed on a separate monitor or on paper, forcing the reader to take his or her eyes from the film to review another image. The Center for Breast Care at Boca Raton Community Hospital in Boca Raton, Fla., employs a slightly different efficiency model. [ SecondLook technology from Viatronix provides a computerized second review highlighting suspicious lesions in the breast. This The center is an early adopter of Workflow under enables radiologists to distinguish cancers from other anomalies or subtle changes in breast tissue that could either indicate the presence mammography CAD and deployed the microscope of cancer or necessitate a more thorough examination. ] iCAD Inc.’s SecondLook Digital “Digital mammography CAD has shortly after the technology earned FDA approval in 2002. Prior simplified life enormously,” reports James Ruiz, MD, a radiologist to implementing mammography, the center’s radiologists at Woman’s Hospital in Baton Rouge, La., and user of Hologic’s R2 double-read all mammograms. Since implementing SecondImageChecker CAD. The radiology department at Woman’s HosLook, the department has phased out double-reading. “CAD pital first deployed CAD in conjunction with analog mammogramakes us more efficient,” states Kathy Schilling, MD, medical phy in 2003. Analog mammography CAD workflow required a director of imaging and intervention. Today, CAD serves as the fair amount of technologist time and input. For each study, a tech second reader, allowing the site to accommodate a substantial digitized and analyzed the film and returned it to its jacket and increase in mammography volume without a correlative hung the study. increase in FTE radiologists. In contrast, digital mammography CAD eliminates the manThe practice reaps additional efficiency gains by digitizing ual processes to streamline workflow and reduce tech manpower analog prior studies with iCAD’s TotalLook Mammo Advantage. needs, says Ruiz. The CAD system automatically analyzes and The system helped the center eliminate roller boards to minimarks suspicious areas on the digital images without disrupting mize the stress of the hybrid mammography environment and tech workflow to further boost the workflow benefits associated accelerate the digital implementation. with digital mammography. Similarly, CAD improves radiolo20 Health Imaging & IT | July 2008 HealthImaging.com http://HealthImaging.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Healthcare Imaging & IT - July 2008

Healthcare Imaging & IT - July 2008 On the Web The Enterprise News Update Convention Spotlight: AHRA 2008 Cover Story: Driving Metrics to Drive Business: Digital Dashboards Deliver Mammography CAD Comes of Age Breast MR CAD: Earlier Detection, Increased Efficiency Lung CAD Earning a Spot in Day-to-Day Practice Colon CAD: Breaking Down Barriers Modality Review: Cardiac CT Angiography: A Clear Pathway to Better Cardiac Patient Management Practice Management: RIS Rights Efficiency & Productivity Wrongs In Practice: Advanced Visualization Across the Enterprise Regulatory Update: Beware: Recovery Audit Contractors Poised for Permanent Status Technology Outlook: Compressing Images for Remote Transmission Reader's Resource Stat Sheet

Healthcare Imaging & IT - July 2008

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