EWBC’s research department has been busy preparing to present data from our clinic at the biggest radiological conference of the year; the Radiological Society of North America 2019 Annual Meeting in Chicago December 1–6, 2019.
Dr. Destounis, on behalf of the research team, will proudly be presenting data supporting the benefits of screening breast ultrasound in an oral presentation entitled, “Is there value to screening breast ultrasound as a supplement to mammography in women at average risk in comparison to those with known risk factors?” The team examined data from screening ultrasound and screening mammogram appointments in women with dense breast tissue over a four-year period, dividing the data by patients with one or more known risk factors (family history, hormone replacement therapy, etc.) and those without known risk factors. The study found screening ultrasound in patients with known risk factors detected a substantial number of cancers not seen on mammography (3.2/1000 additional cancers); 1.4/1000 cancers were detected in patients with no known risk factors.
These results support that goal of screening, and the use of screening ultrasound, in detecting additional malignancies previously undetected by screening mammography. Finding cancer early when it is small allows patients to have less invasive and less intensive treatments with the highest success rates.
Dr. Destounis and the EWBC research team have published past studies and articles which also support the use of screening ultrasound, but this study more clearly expresses that screening breast ultrasound is beneficial for all women with dense breasts, with or without known risk factors. At Elizabeth Wende Breast Care, we give the option of screening ultrasound to all patients who have mammographically dense breast tissue regardless of the presence of additional risk factors, or lack thereof. As a patient here at EWBC, if you are informed that you have dense breast tissue, you are one of the almost 50% of women – ask us today for more information on the benefits of screening ultrasound.
