New revolutionary 3d Mammography has recently been approved by FDA . Houston Breast Imaging was one of the principle investigators of the recent trial on tomosynthesis. Dr. Rose has presented the data to the FDA panel, which helped gain the FDA approval.
The Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool is an interactive tool designed by scientists at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) to estimate a woman's risk of developing invasive breast cancer.
Podcast: Breast Tomosynthesis — One Practice's Experience
by Sara Michael / Diagnostic Imaging
January 5, 2012
In February 2011, the FDA approved the first X-ray mammography system that provides 3-D images for breast cancer screening and diagnosis, Hologic’s Selenia Dimensions. The 3-D tomosynthesis is being offered in fewer than two dozen locations in the U.S., and among them is Houston Breast Imaging in Texas.
In this podcast, Stephen Rose, MD, president and CEO of Houston Breast Imaging and a principal investigator of the 3-D tomosynthesis clinical trials in 2010, discusses the benefits of the new technology and what his practice learned when implementing the screening program.
New Tool to Catch Breast Cancer Early Now in Houston
by MELISSA WILSON
Health Reporter / My Fox
Houston October 12, 2011
HOUSTON - There's a new tool that's able to catch breast cancer at its earliest stages, and it's now available right here, in Houston.
It's a 3-dimensional mammogram. We met up with the first doctor to offer 3D mammograms and the first woman, who was diagnosed early, because of it. About a year and a half ago, Jeanie Parker went to Houston Breast Imaging for her routine mammogram. They asked if she'd like to participate in the clinical trial of tomosynthesis, or a 3D mammogram, in addition to her typical 2D mammogram. She said, "Sure, why not?"
Dr. Stephen Rose with Houston Breast Imaging tells us Jeanie was the second person in this trial and the first in the city to be diagnosed with a 3D mammogram alone. Her 2D (typical mammogram) results came back normal.
"I looked at the 2D first, because that's the way we did the study, and I agreed that it was negative. Then, I started to look at the 3D mammogram. Remember this is the second person in the trial, and I saw a small lesion that I was concerned about in the right breast. I looked at left breast and saw an even smaller area, brought her back for an ultrasound, which confirmed what we saw on the 3D mammogram. We did a biopsy and put tiny clips in, which exactly matched what we saw on the 3D mammogram: cancer," explains Dr. Rose.
Jeanie says it was shocking to realize that because she agreed to join the clinical trial, her cancer was caught super early. Dr. Rose believes they'll be able to now detect breast cancer three or four years earlier because the 3D mammogram can show tumors that just can't be seen on the typical mammogram. Jeanie says at first, she got the standard letter telling her that her mammogram (2D) was normal. A week later, she got a phone call that the new 3D mammogram told a different story.
"When I went back to my doctor, it was a shocker, but I'm so thankful they caught it, because a year later, it might have been a different story," says Jeanie.
Dr. Rose says this is as hopeful as it sounds!
"I consider this a huge breakthrough," he exclaims. He goes on to say, "Most new tests, if they are successful, tend to help the area that you're looking for, but then it usually increases the number of false positives and you find what you really didn't need to find. We've found very small tumors. I have cases that I believe we may be finding these tumors three or four years earlier, because when they're up against dense breast tissue, they can be difficult to detect."
Dr. Rose was able to catch Jeannie's breast cancer at Stage 1, because of this new revolutionary screening tool.
He believes her cancer could have easily spread, given another year or two, or even three, that it would take to show up on a regular mammogram. It's performed, and feels, just like a typical mammogram.
Jeannie's results helped pave the the way for millions of women to come.
"Her case was presented to the FDA medical panel, and I presented it. It's part of their reason to unanimously approve it (3D mammogram), because of her story," says Dr. Rose. Jeanie says it was just meant to be that she participated in the study.
Dr. Rose believes 3D mammograms will soon be the new standard care. He says it will take a while for doctors to replace their old equipment with the new, but he believes it's just a matter of time
"Her case was presented to the FDA medical panel, and I presented it. It's part of their reason to unanimously approve it (3D mammogram), because of her story," says Dr. Rose. Jeanie says it was just meant to be that she participated in the study.
HOUSTON -- New revolutionary technology is putting more women at ease while detecting tiny tumors that otherwise would have been missed.
Wife and mother of three, Cheryl Lasater has been getting mammograms regularly over the last five years, so when she was offered a new 3D scan, she thought, why not?
"If I'm going to have to go through a mammogram, let's get the best, highest level of technology that we can," Lasater said.
Within days, she was called in for a biopsy.
"It did come back cancer," Lasater said.
Lasater had two small tumors, one 9 mm and the 4 mm, each stage one.
Since it was caught so early, the tumors were removed using reconstructive surgery. No chemo, no radiation.
"I am so very fortunate and blessed," Lasater said.
Breast radiologist Dr. Stephen Rose was the principal investigator for clinical trials on breast tomosynthesis, 3D imaging technology.
"My strong belief is that this will replace the standard screening mammography for everyone," Rose said.
The 3D mammogram feels the same as a conventional 2D scan, maybe a hair faster, but it enables doctors to see inside the breast like never before.
"In the past, if you made a subtle finding on the mammogram, the likelihood was that it very probably ... was nothing. A subtle finding on 3D mammography has a high probably of being very significant."
Rose added that he's seen false positive rates reduced by as much as 50 percent.
"Now women in their 40s have more reason than ever to get their mammogram and they're the ones that need it every year," Rose said.
The FDA approved tomosynthesis in February. It is not yet covered by insurance, so at the Memorial Hermann Breast Care Centers, patients are billed for 2D exams and asked to pay $50 out of pocket for 3D.
FDA approves 3D mammogram technology
by Christi Myers / abc13 news
May 26, 2011
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Last year, we told you about a study of a new type of mammogram that many believe is more accurate than the current digital mammography. The new 3D mammography was recently FDA approved.
We met Jeanne Parker last July when she was beginning treatment for cancer in both breasts -- cancers her mammogram missed. But a new 3D mammogram caught both cancers.
"The regular mammogram missed them because they were so small and because my breasts were dense but the 3D was able to pick it up," Parker said.
Parker has had successful treatment.
"I just feel so blessed," she said.
She was one of 450 Houston women in a national study on 3D mammography, called tomosynthesis.
"In the study that we were part of, we didn't have any cancers that were missed on 3D," Dr. Stephen Rose said.
Dr. Rose did a side-by-side comparison of the digital 2D and 3D mammograms.
"This is a small, less than 1 centimeter cancer that otherwise would have been missed," Dr. Rose said.
The 3D mammogram shows the breast in slices, making it easier to see a hidden or small cancer, especially in women with dense breasts.
"With tomosynthesis, because we can page through the breast, we're not having to call those patients back for additional tests," Dr. Rose said.
It looks like a regular mammogram and for practical purposes it really is, except that it makes a 3D picture and a 2D picture at the same visit. And doctors like that because the technology is so new they still want to compare them.
Dr. Rose says there are also fewer false positives, meaning less anxiety and fewer biopsies.
"It's been anywhere from 30-50 percent reduction in false positive rate. That's enormous," he said.
"I really feel like it saved my life," Parker said.
The FDA has now approved the 3D mammogram, so now this new technology is available to all women.
There are five locations where women in the Houston area can now get a 3D mammogram. You can call 877-962-6660 or 877-40-MAMMO to find the location nearest you.
The cost is what insurance pays for a regular mammogram plus $50.00.
...Houston Breast Imaging facilitates an educational event about Positron Emission Mammography (PEM): optimized staging, planning, treatment and monitoring for superior clinical outcomes with breast cancer...
Breast services expand at Memorial Hermann Sugar Land
Fort bend magazine
February 2011
...This expanded service
is the result of a collaboration
between Memorial
Hermann Sugar Land and
Houston Breast Imaging, the fifth such collaboration
in the Memorial
Hermann system. Founded in 1999 by
Stephen Rose, M.D., Rose Imaging is
home to the largest group of breast imaging
specialists in Houston and one of
the largest in the country...
New Mammography Test Uses 3D
by Bill Stamps / kuhf news
November 1, 2010
A new procedure that takes a 3D picture of the breast may soon revolutionize the way women are screened for breast cancer. Testing on the new procedure is taking place here in Houston and as Bill Stamps reports — the test could be available to the general public as early as next spring. The procedure is called digital tomosynthesis and what it does is take 3D pictures of the breast. Regular mammography records x-ray pictures on film, but digital mammography records the pictures on the computer. Dr. Stephen Rose of Houston is one of a select few doing testing on the procedure. He believes the impact this test could have is enormous.
"I think it’s the biggest thing that I’ve seen in my professional career as far as the impact that I think it will have, because it’s rare that new technology does both improve your ability to detect what you’re trying to find and at the same time, improve the ability not to detect things that you shouldn't find."
The key he says is the ability to detect tumors earlier, yet also be able to rule out other things that a doctor looking at a normal mammogram might have questions about.
"Those things that we would look at on the mammogram and say we’re not sure what it is. With this procedure we’re now able to look at it and say that’s really nothing to worry about and we don’t have to do the additional tests."
Dr. Rose says the test itself isn’t much different than a normal mammogram.
"To the patient it looks and feels like a regular digital mammogram, but the tube actually makes a quick three second sweep and by doing so generates slices through the breast, more like slabs through the breast on the imaging side and find smaller tumors earlier."
Digital tomosynthesis is currently being tested at several locations across the country including here in Houston. Dr. Rose presented his case to a panel of the Food and Drug Administration last month and got the panel’s recommendation. Now he’ll continue to test the procedure as he awaits the FDA’s approval. Even with these technological breakthroughs he says women still need to get screened yearly starting around age 40.
"It’s more important when you’re younger to get screened yearly because tumors in that age group are more aggressive."
Dr. Rose is convinced this new test will change the way mammograms are done. In his opinion, when it comes to medical breakthroughs, it doesn’t get much bigger than this.
Clinical Trial Hopes To Offer More Accurate Breast Cancer Screening
by Leticia Juarez / 11 News
khou.com June 23, 2010
HOUSTON -
Mammography is one of the best tools for detecting breast cancer. The current technology utilizes two-dimensional imaging to see through breast tissue and fat, but it is not always accurate.
"One of the problems we have as breast imagers is when we look at a mammogram, there may be an area that looks like it might be something, but you're not sure," local breast radiologist Dr. Stephen L. Rose said.
The uncertainty leads to more invasive procedures and anxiety for the patient.
The Bobette Lindig Breast Center at Memorial Hermann Memorial City Hospital recently began participating in a clinical trial of a new imaging technology called breast tomosynthesis.
"This is just an evolution of the mammogram," Rose said.
The experimental technology combines data from a series of conventional mammogram imaging to create a three-dimensional image of the breast.
"What this does is peel things away. So if it's just overlapping breast tissue, we can see it's just overlapping breast tissue," Rose said.
Benegene Kring, 65, decided to participate in Food and Drug Administration trial after her conventional mammogram showed a suspicious mass.
"I think it's definitely the way to go because they were having trouble getting a good picture of the image with the regular technique, so they needed some extra strength. This gave it to them," Kring said.
Rose believes breast tomosynthesis provides improved diagnostic and screening accuracy, fewer recalls and a better look inside the breast.
"If it is truly a cancer or small area that we should be concerned about, you see the margins of the area so much better. It tends to jump out at you," he said.
The FDA still has to review the study to determine if and when breast tomosynthesis will be available in the United States.
To participate in the clinical trial you must be age 35 or older, never have had any breast surgery and not be pregnant or breast feeding.
Houston hospital offers 3-D Mammogram
by Allison Triarsi / 11 News
khou.com
June 18, 2010
HOUSTON -- Memorial Hermann Memorial City Hospital is now one of the few places offering a 3-D mammogram.
The new machine is on its way to FDA approval, but has already taken breast-cancer detection to a new level, experts say.
Dr. Stephen Rose said a standard mammogram didn't show what would turn out to be breast cancer.
"I think this is going to revolutionize the way we screen for breast cancer," he said.
The new machine is now in Houston for clinical trials and came just in time for Kathy Grzesik.
"I had a number of tests done on that particular day and this is the one I wasn't worried about," she said.
Grzesik went in for a routine mammogram routine and was shocked when she got the results.
"Initially I got a little teary eyed, and wasn't sure what to expect, so it makes you nervous," she said.
Doctors found a very small mass and the 3-D mammogram will help Rose see that mass in detail.
Until then her time is spent worrying.
“You try to keep yourself occupied and not think about it and not dwell on it, but it’s hard you do think about it,” she said.
The 3-D mammogram is only offered in 18 cities across the country right now. Grzesik said she drove by the hospital and saw it advertised.
She lost her dad to prostate cancer 14 months ago.
“He's on my mind so much anyway. I think about him so much. We were very close," she said.
His death while so hard on Grzesik was also her reminder to make that call for a check-up.
"Thats my comfort right now, I think I'm right where I need to be, and I think I can go on and take it from here," she said.
In the coming days, Rose will analyze Grzesik's 3-D mammogram. It works by taking pictures of the breast in layers, for example, as he paged through the layers, the calcifications got clearer.
"Instead of being static, it actually makes a sweep through the breast," he said. "That tells me a little bit more about the pathology that’s going on and when something’s lining up in a duct it’s a little more concerning."
He said the regular mammogram doesn't show those calcifications as well.
"In my professional career, this is the most exciting tool I've seen," Rose said.
The clinical trials will continue until 250 patients have had 3-D mammograms. The procedure is free, but you've got to meet certain health requirements.
Cancer Screening Controversy
by Leticia Juarez / 11 News khou.com November 17, 2009
"There are times when we can look at it and be very suspicious," said Dr. Stephen Rose with Rose Imaging at Memorial Hermann Hospital.
For the past two decades, Dr. Rose has studied mammograms, looking for the tell-tell signs of a cancer growth.
"About a quarter of the women we detect breast cancer in are women in their forties," said Rose.
He is just one of the many doctors, breast cancer survivors, and women who are speaking out against a government task force recommendation.
"The travesty of that is one, we have no alternative, there is not other way to screen women for breast cancer that we know of other than mammography," said Rose.
"What they are saying is that the side-effects of the screens, so to speak, are such that it isn't worth it to save those lives," said Rose.
The recommendations though are not for women with high risk factors for breast cancer like family history.
"I didn't have any family history of breast cancer," said breast cancer survivor Anjum Abbas. "So, I didn't think it was going to happen to me, but there it was with breast cancer."
Abbas was 39 when she was diagnosed. She caught it early during a self- breast examination -- the same type of exam the panel said does no good for women.
"It helped me a lot, it saved my life," said Abbas.
Now in remission, she supports early breast screening so that other women may have the same opportunity she had.
"If they do find it early, it's not aggressive, they can treat it and it saves you from going into chemotherapy," she said.
The national breast cancer coalition is one of the few organizations applauding the task forces new recommendations -- its own guidelines are similar.
But it seems it's the critics who are getting the last word.
"I absolutely believe this will cost lives," said Rose.
Meanwhile, the new guidelines has caused a rife with the American Cancer Society, which held firm on its position that women have annual breast cancer exams starting at age 40.
