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nu:view breast CT allows for high-resolution 3D imaging without breast compression, combining cutting-edge imaging capabilities with patient experience. But what about the radiation dose?

In a retrospective study with 1657 breast CT examinations (829 patients), it was shown that radiation exposure of an examination using spiral breast CT equipped with a photon-counting detector [nu:view system] was lower than in diagnostic mammography and cone-beam breast CT. While other dose studies only examine phantoms, this is the first patient-specific dose study using real breast CT patient data from a large patient cohort.

After a dedicated breast tissue segmentation, a Monte Carlo simulation for dose estimation was performed and mathematical models which allow for an estimation of the dose based on morphological features were applied. Breast length was found to be an easy-to-use feature, which could be used by clinicians to adjust the scan settings to further minimize dose levels.

Full publication (paywall article):
Shim, S, Kolditz, D, Steiding, C, et al. Radiation dose estimates based on Monte Carlo simulation for spiral breast computed tomography imaging in a large cohort of patients. Med Phys. 2023; 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1002/mp.16211

Dedicated spiral breast CT with photon-counting technology (“nu:view” system) shows to be “a promising new breast imaging modality for several reasons”, finds a team of radiology scientists at the University Hospital Erlangen, Germany.

Summarising on previously published scientific investigations and their own 3-year clinical experience with the system, the concepts of spiral breast CT and potential implications for patient care are outlined. According to the authors, two main application areas for spiral breast CT are emerging:

• Advanced diagnostics: Contrast-enhanced spiral breast CT can provide functional information and may become an alternative to breast MRI in certain clinical settings, including problem-solving and staging.
• Reaching out to women: Used without contrast media, spiral breast CT can be considered as an alternative to DBT and might become an alternative to screening mammography in cases where women would otherwise refuse or not be able to undergo breast compression.

Accurate 3D assessment of microcalcifications and non-mass enhancement at high isotropic resolutions are seen as one strength of spiral breast CT, suggesting a “high diagnostic potential for the work-up of DCIS and its benign mimicker.”

Read the full review article (open access) to learn more:

M. Wetzl, M. Dietzel, S. Ohlmeyer, M. Uder, E. Wenkel. „Spiral breast computed tomography with a photon-counting detector (SBCT): The future of breast imaging?“ In: European Journal of Radiology 157 (2022), p. 110605. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrad.2022.110605

As part of the expansion strategy, AB-CT’s shareholders have appointed Dr. Ulrich Bergmoser as the company’s new Co-CEO and CFO. “Dr. Bergmoser has a wealth of experience as CEO, CFO and strategic advisor in the healthcare sector that we are going to leverage to strengthen our processes and generate sustainable growth. Together, we will progress to the next stage and make breast CT more readily available,” says CEO Benjamin Kalender.

Dr. Ulrich Bergmoser: “AB-CT is an exceptionally innovative medtech company with a truly revolutionary technology. I am very much looking forward to being part of its further success story.”

Full press release (PDF, German):
AB-CT – Advanced Breast-CT GmbH mit Sitz in Erlangen hat im Rahmen der Expansionsstrategie Dr. Ulrich Bergmoser als Co-CEO und CFO gewonnen

What a (science) night! For the first time ever, the University Hospital Erlangen opened their doors to present their breast CT to a broader, non-medical audience during the “Lange Nacht der Wissenschaften”. It was a huge success.

In a series of 30 minutes guided tours, senior radiologist and head of diagnostic and interventional breast diagnostics Prof. Evelyn Wenkel and radiologist Dr. Matthias Wetzl took the groups on an insightful journey through today’s challenges and possibilities of breast cancer diagnostics.

After a brief introduction to breast CT, visitors could try the lying position that patients take during an examination for themselves. The interactive experience was followed by a demonstration of selected clinical cases that showed where and how breast CT is used to help with breast cancer diagnostics.

“’Maybe benign’ doesn’t help the woman,” Dr. Wetzl pointed out. What patients need is a diagnosis that’s as reliable possible, as quick as possible. The high-resolution 3D images are also used to determine the size of a tumour – relevant to make an informed decision whether full breast removal is necessary or if the route for breast-conserving surgical treatment can be taken.

Thank you very much to Prof. Wenkel and Dr. Wetzl for this informative insight behind the scenes, and to all visitors for their interest. We genuinely value such positive feedback.

AB-CT featuring @b-rayZ: Two breast health pioneers are combining their expertise in a project to the benefit of breast cancer patients and breast specialists.

The goal was the development of an AI platform for automatic analysis of spiral breast CT datasets in terms of image quality, glandular density, and detection of suspicious or cancerous lesions.

This Diagnostic Imaging Europe article not only explains the benefits of breast CT compared to standard examination methods, but highlights how AI can be integrated game changing into the examination process to improve workflow efficiency and overall patient care.

Source: DIEurope (Spring 2022), p. 26-27.

Photon-counting CT is currently making big headlines. But did you know AB-CT has been pioneering photon-counting CT in clinical practice since 2018?

Time to check out the archives…

• Dedicated Breast Computed Tomography With a Photon-Counting Detector: Initial Results of Clinical In Vivo Imaging (University Hospital Zurich, 2019)
• Spiral Breast CT: an innovative technology for high resolution real 3D breast imaging without compression (Diagnostic Imaging Europe, 2020 (PDF))

… and get familiar with the latest scientific evidence from nu:view breast CT in clinical routine:

• Breast volume helps determine radiation dose for spiral breast CT
  (RSNA 2021 Scientific Presentation, Sojin Shim | Tue, 30 Nov, 9:30h – room: S405 (SSPH09-1))
• First Experiences With Dedicated Photon-counting CT Of The Breast For Detection Of Microcalcifications
  (RSNA 2021 Scientific Poster Presentation, Lisa Huck | Tue, 30 Nov, 12:15h – Learning Center BR (BR03-A8))
• First Results Of Dynamic Contrast-enhanced (DCE) Photon-counting Breast CT (PC-BCT) Imaging Of DCIS
  (RSNA 2021 Scientific Poster Presentation, Caroline Wilpert | Wed, 1 Dec, 12:15h – Learning Center BR (BR04-A4))
• Potential of spiral breast computed tomography to increase patient comfort compared to DM
  (European Journal of Radiology, Wetzl M. et al, Nov 2021)

Or learn more about nu:view’s cutting-edge breast imaging technology in this video:

• nu:view breast CT: technology FAQ (Youtube, 7 min.)

It’s been only last week since the first nu:view patient scan in the Netherlands, but the Leiden University Medical Center’s (LUMC) latest addition is already making big headlines.

Countless newspapers, TV and magazines have been reporting about compression-free breast imaging. The LUMC’s social media channels are full with likes and positive comments from women. Equally positive first feedback from the hospital radiologists on the high-resolution 3D images: “This is really amazing.“

Dear Netherlands, bedankt! Laten we de toekomst veranderen. (Thank you! Let´s change the future.)

More information

LUMC press release: Pijnloos borstonderzoek? LUMC start onderzoek met alternatief mammogram

Medical Devices community: LUMC starts research with alternative painless mammogram

RTL Niews (TV) (LUMC breast CT min. #17:35 – #19:30)

LINDA.nl

Mf medicalfacts

Leidsch Dagblad

You don´t understand Dutch? No problem. You’ll get a brief impression of the content, even using Google translator.

New Diagnostic Imaging Europe nu:view user interview!

This time, it’s with Prof. Andreas Boss, Senior Consultant responsible for breast imaging at the University Hospital Zurich and longest-standing nu:view user since 2018, who speaks about the way the system is used in an opportunistic screening setting in the Swiss canton of Zurich, and his findings on the examination of patients with implants in particular. Informative read (3 pages)!

Download the full interview here:
Breast CT in women with breast implants (Diagnostic Imaging Europe, June 2021) (PDF)

“In one patient extensive calcifications were found in the capsule fibrosis, and was best detected in breast-CT. In the surrounding glandular breast tissue, we were able to show that both microcalcifications and soft tissue lesions can be detected, which justifies the use of breast-CT in patients with breast implants not just for diagnostic and screening purposes, but also for follow-up examinations after breast cancer.”

„There are typically two complications associated with silicone implants, namely rupture and capsule fibrosis. Both show typical patterns in breast-CT. In case of rupture, the so-called “linguine signs” which are caused by the broken elastomeric casing of the implant can be clearly seen. […] Capsule fibrosis is the other common problem of silicone implants, and is caused by a foreign body reaction of the surrounding tissue. Often, capsule fibroses show calcifications, which can only be visualized using breast-CT. […]“

“We receive excellent feedback from those patients, with more than 90% expressing positive acceptance of the new technique. Because of this we have a growing number of women referred to us for breast-CT.”

“To summarize our experience with breast-CT in patients with silicone implants and its role in a regimen using supplemental ultrasound in patients with dense breasts we found that it is a breast imaging modality of high accuracy and with a radiation dose similar to mammography. With its many advantages over alternative imaging modalities, breast-CT has the potential to become the modality of choice for both breast cancer screening and diagnostic imaging.”