Multiple Imaging Modalities vs. Mammography

Breast cancer is a very real threat for women everywhere, and even some men in rare cases. Early detection and treatment are key to stopping the cancer before it becomes a problem, and for most women this translates directly into regular mammograms.

While mammography has been considered the ‘gold standard’ for breast screening, adjunct technologies such as breast ultrasound, breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), molecular breast imaging (MBI) and even breast computer-aided detection (CAD) too are gaining traction as they improve the standards of diagnosis and treatment of breast cancers.

“Research studies in recent years have validated the benefits that multi-modality screening provides over regular mammography screening with increasing of the efficiency, specificity and sensitivity of breast cancer screening procedures, since one modality can overcome the limitations of another,” said Frost & Sullivan Healthcare Research Analyst Raghuraman Madanagopal.

According to an analysis from Frost & Sullivan, this combination of systems has led to $988.3 million in revenue for the European breast imaging systems market in 2013 and will reach over $1,384 million in 2020.

To reduce complexity and help clinicians focus on decision making, automatic solutions for multi-modal position correlation, image normalization and workflow support are needed. Fraunhofer MEVIS develops software solutions for multi-modal breast diagnosis supporting a clinician‘s work and increasing productivity and precision from screening to therapy.

“The European market will continue to evolve as breast imaging systems vendors look for innovative technologies to battle the increasing rate of false positives and overcome limitations while scanning women with dense breast tissue,” state Raghuraman Madanagopal.