Seek-Find-Act-Follow: Innovations Span Entire Breast Care Continuum, from
Early Detection and Diagnosis, to Targeted Therapy, Monitoring and After
Care
CHICAGO, Nov. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Siemens Medical Solutions
(http://www.usa.siemens.com/medical) introduces the latest innovations to its
breast care portfolio, designed to help detect, diagnose and treat breast
cancer earlier, faster, and with greater precision, at the 93rd Scientific
Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America
(RSNA) from Nov. 25 to 30 at McCormick Place (Booth #7713, Hall B). As the
world's first full-service diagnostics company, Siemens is showcasing its
unique capabilities to provide solutions that address each step of breast
care.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070904/SIEMENSLOGO )
"Siemens continues to raise the bar for innovation by offering a
comprehensive range of breast care solutions, as evidenced by the
leading-edge technologies on display at this year's RSNA," said Erich R.
Reinhardt, Ph.D., member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG and president
and CEO of Siemens Medical Solutions. "Siemens is enabling facilities to
provide quality care tailored to the individual patient's needs and
optimize productivity, workflow, and, ultimately, financial performance."
By combining advanced imaging, laboratory diagnostics, and information
technologies, Siemens helps physicians not only detect, diagnose and treat
breast cancer in its earliest, most treatable stages, but also provides
them with comprehensive after-care solutions. This holistic approach
enables shorter exams, streamlined workflow, and improved patient outcomes.
With the movement toward a multimodality approach to breast care, imaging
technologies such as ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are
playing an increasing role in all stages of breast care. At RSNA, Siemens
is showcasing its latest advancements in breast ultrasound and MRI, as well
as the next generation of digital mammography systems and immunodiagnostic
testing.
Digital Mammography Simplified: MAMMOMAT Novation S
Introducing MAMMOMAT(R) Novation S, a cost-effective solution for
facilities that are making the transition to digital breast imaging but do
not have the need for the advanced functionality of state-of-the-art
systems. The MAMMOMAT Novation S optimizes workflow, utilizes the latest
full-field amorphous Selenium (aSe) detectors and features Tungsten/Rhodium
(W/Rh) X-ray technology, which reduces dose.
Ultrasound Technology Helping to Reduce Biopsies and Image Dense
Breasts
Siemens' breakthrough breast ultrasound technology, eSie Touch(TM)
elasticity imaging, has shown promise in reducing reliance on invasive
breast biopsy procedures. According to published research as many as 80
percent of biopsied breast lesions are found to be benign. Elasticity
imaging measures the mechanical properties of tissue providing additional
information for enhanced diagnostic decision-making. Clinical studies
indicate that elasticity imaging has the potential to increase specificity
in the evaluation and determination of focal breast lesions. Elasticity
imaging has recently been recognized as the "Best New Product of the Year"
by the Stevie Awards for Women in Business -- an international competition
recognizing the accomplishments of outstanding business women as well as
products, services and innovations introduced to the marketplace by or for
women.
In addition, the U-Systems SomoVu(TM) Automated Breast Ultrasound
System* provides a fast, cost-effective, patient-friendly solution,
especially when it comes to overcoming the challenges posed in imaging and
screening of dense breast tissue. Unlike conventional ultrasound
acquisition techniques where the user moves a transducer over the breast,
automated breast scanning (ABS) technology is a single-sweep, automated
acquisition technique that produces standardized, reproducible
three-dimensional ultrasound images for improved diagnostic confidence.
Advances in MRI Breast Spectroscopy
A recent study published in Radiology found that proton MRI
spectroscopy may eliminate 68 percent of biopsies for benign non-mass
breast lesions found on standard MRI exams without missing any cancers++.
Siemens' solution for quantitative breast MRI breast spectroscopy,
syngo(R) GRACE, allows physicians to obtain essential metabolic information
about the biochemical composition of breast lesions. This additional
information helps physicians better distinguish between malignant and
benign lesions to potentially reduce the risk of unnecessary breast
biopsies. Using choline as a biomarker, syngo GRACE provides improved
differential diagnosis and enhanced confidence in therapy monitoring.
Advances in Immunodiagnostics
New advances in immunodiagnostics have led to the development of an
in-vitro biomarker that may help physicians determine whether a metastatic
breast cancer patient is responding to treatment. This biomarker,
HER-2/neu, measures levels of human epidermal growth factor receptor-2, a
protein that plays a pivotal role in the growth of some breast cancer
cells. Siemens Medical Solutions Diagnostics' Serum HER-2/neu test is the
first and only FDA-cleared blood test for measuring circulating levels of
the HER-2/neu protein in the monitoring of patients with metastatic breast
cancer. Over the course of disease, monitoring HER-2/neu levels yields
important information about response to therapy, and may help physicians
make more informed decisions when developing and modifying patient
treatment regimens.
Molecular Imaging Technologies
Molecular imaging technologies play a central role in the
characterization of masses found in the breast and have therefore had a
major impact on the initial diagnosis, staging and follow-up care for
breast cancer patients. Diagnostic SPECT-CT using Siemens Symbia
TruePoint(TM) SPECT-CT imaging systems combines anatomical clarity obtained
from CT with functional imaging using SPECT lymphoscintigraphy for accurate
localization of sentinel nodes. This information is then used for biopsy to
evaluate for nodal metastases.
The Biograph(TM) TruePoint PET.CT provides high quality images of
18F-FDG tracer, which shows a high sensitivity for the localization of
distant metastases due to the high glucose affinity of proliferating tumor
cells. This has made PET.CT a standard of care for breast cancer staging.
Molecular imaging technologies can assist physicians in making more
accurate assessments of indeterminate breast lumps, which can have an
impact on therapeutic decisions.
* U-Systems, Inc. SomoVu(TM) Automated Breast Ultrasound System,
distributed by Siemens
++ Bartella L, et al "Enhancing Nonmass Lesions in the Breast: Evaluation
with Proton 1(H) MR Spectroscopy" Radiology 2007; 245: 80-87.
About Siemens Medical Solutions
Siemens Medical Solutions is one of the world's largest suppliers to
the healthcare industry. The company is a renowned medical solutions
provider with core competence and innovative strength in diagnostic and
therapeutic technologies as well as in knowledge engineering, including
information technology and system integration. With its laboratory
diagnostics acquisitions, Siemens Medical Solutions will be the first fully
integrated diagnostics company, bringing together imaging and lab
diagnostics, therapy, and healthcare information technology solutions,
supplemented by consulting and support services. The company delivers
solutions across the entire continuum of care -- from prevention and early
detection, to diagnosis, therapy and care. Siemens Medical Solutions
employs more than 48,000 people worldwide and operates in 130 countries. In
the fiscal year 2007 (until Sept. 30th), Siemens Medical Solutions reported
sales of euro 9,85 billion, orders of euro 10,27 billion, and group profit
of euro 1,32 billion (preliminary figures, unaudited). Further information
can be found by visiting http://www.usa.siemens.com/medical.
SOURCE Siemens Medical Solutions
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CONTACT:
Paul Crowell, Corporate Communications, Media
Relations, Siemens AG, +1-610-448-4974, paul.crowell@siemens.com
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