MEDRAD, INC., announced its support for a breast MRI curriculum with an educational grant to the International Center for Postgraduate Medical Education (ICPME). The curriculum provides for continuing medical education to help participants meet the challenges of building a comprehensive breast MRI practice.
In 2007, the American Cancer Society updated its guidelines to recommend that women considered to be at high risk for developing breast cancer get an annual breast MRI exam in addition to their yearly mammogram. Breast MRI volume is expected to grow considerably as a result of these new guidelines.
“MEDRAD has always offered a unique level of education and support to our customers through our field clinical support representatives and our MR seminars,” said Joe Havrilla, senior vice president, MEDRAD MR. “This particular grant to ICPME helps us reach radiologists and interventional radiologists with a curriculum and hands-on training that equips them for analyzing and interpreting the increasing number of breast MR images they will see as they build their practices.”
The breast MRI curriculum consists of a full-day course of practical, clinically-oriented instruction and hands-on training around interpretation and intervention. Course lecturers were Christopher Comstock, M.D., associate clinical professor of radiology and director of breast imaging at the University of California, San Diego, and Constance D. Lehman, M.D., Ph.D., section head of breast imaging at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and professor of radiology at the University of Washington. The course was presented in Dallas on January 17, 2008 and Los Angeles on February 1, 2008. Due in part to MEDRAD’s grant, participation was free for physicians.
Most breast MRI exams require injection of contrast agent for illumination of soft tissues and tumors. A power injector makes contrast injection easier, reproducible, and consistent. MEDRAD developed the first MR compatible power injector and continues to invest in new technology like the Spectris Solaris® EP Injection System. Today, MEDRAD power injectors are the most widely used MR injectors in the world.
About ICPME
The International Center for Postgraduate Medical Education (ICPME) in Ithaca, NY, is a nationally accredited medical education company. Founded in 1993 as the Ithaca Center, ICPME was first accredited by the ACCME in 1997. ICPME is also accredited to provide certified education for nurses and pharmacists. The mission of ICPME is to provide independent, quality continuing education for physicians and other health care professionals with the goal being improved medical care for patients and communities.
About MEDRAD
MEDRAD, INC., is a worldwide leading provider of medical devices and services that enable and enhance imaging procedures of the human body. Used in diagnostic imaging, MEDRAD’s product offerings include a comprehensive line of vascular injection systems, magnetic resonance (MR) surface coils and patient care products, and equipment services. Total 2006 revenues were $478 million. MEDRAD is a 2003 recipient of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the top honor a U.S. company can receive for quality and business excellence. The company’s world headquarters is near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the United States. MEDRAD is an affiliate of Bayer AG. More company information is available at www.medrad.com.
The Bayer Group is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of healthcare, nutrition and high-tech materials. Bayer HealthCare, a subsidiary of Bayer AG, is one of the world’s leading, innovative companies in the healthcare and medical products industry and is based in Leverkusen, Germany. The company combines the global activities of the Animal Health, Consumer Care, Diabetes Care and Pharmaceuticals divisions. The pharmaceuticals business operates under the name Bayer Schering Pharma AG. Bayer HealthCare’s aim is to discover and manufacture products that will improve human and animal health worldwide. Find more information at www.bayerhealthcare.com.
MR breast imaging has emerged as a powerful new application due in part to a high-profile recommendation from the American Cancer Society earlier this year. The ACS is recommending an annual MRI for women at high risk for the disease. Even though this affects only about 1% of the 65 million women for whom mammography is recommended, breast MRI has many new fans.
Dynamic Contrast Enhanced MRI is the acquisition of sequential images during the passage of a contrast agent within a region of interest. Clinicians are interested in the enhancement kinetics or the wash-in and wash-out of the contrast from the region of interest. DCE MRI can help determine differential diagnosis (malignant vs. benign) of enhancing lesions through the post processing signal intensity curve. A rapid wash-out may indicate a malignant lesion while a slower wash-out is evidence suggesting a benign lesion.
A key factor in the use of DCE MRI is consistency of contrast delivery. A power injector is recommended to ensure this consistency each and every time at an appropriate flow rate. The consistent contrast delivery of a power injector enables reproducible images that are important when comparing results of women undergoing repeat exams. A programmed flow rate also reduces variability of data.
A case study from Dr. Elizabeth Morris, Ph.D., M.D. of Sloan Kettering Memorial Hospital, demonstrates how enhancement is used to assess malignancy of lesions and to highlight post-surgery and post-treatment effectiveness. Click images to enlarge.
50-year old woman
status post ultrasound guided core biopsy of the left breast, 12:00 axis, yielding
invasive ductal carcinoma.
Impression
1. In the left breast, a 1.6 cm spiculated mass is consistent with biopsy-proven
malignancy. No additional focus of suspicion is seen in the left breast.
2. No suspicious findings are seen in the right breast.
BI-RAD 6: Known carcinoma.
Wide local excision and sentinel lymph node biopsy.
Post-treatment changes in the left breast and no suspicious findings.
BIRADS 2: benign.
MR breast imaging has emerged as a powerful new application. Learn more and view a case study >>
