Staging breast cancer? Try sonography

William Doss | | Radiology Business | Quality

Faculty from the  top-ranked University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center published a review of staging breast cancer via sonography in The American Journal of Roentgenology. 

Staging breast cancer is an essential step in formulating a prognosis for the patient. Criteria are typically the size of the primary tumor (T), involvement of regional lymph nodes, (N), and the presence or absence of distant metastases (M)—the TNM system. These evaluations are usually made with sonography, because it’s inexpensive and can reveal disease not seen on earlier mammograms.

“Sonography is unique in its ability to identify and allow immediate biopsy of small metastatic nodes in the higher nodal basins,” wrote the authors. “These are not well imaged on mammography or MRI and are often below the size threshold for detection on PET.”

Read the full review by following the link below:

Role of Sonography for the Locoregional Staging of Breast Cancer

William Doss

As a Senior Writer for TriMed Media Group, Will covers radiology practice improvement, policy, and finance. He lives in Chicago and holds a bachelor’s degree in Life Science Communication and Global Health from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He previously worked as a media specialist for the UW School of Medicine and Public Health. Outside of work you might see him at one of the many live music venues in Chicago or walking his dog Holly around Lakeview.

Related Content

Clinical decision support significantly reduces use of CT for pulmonary embolism
Frequent AI use may increase radiologists’ risk of burnout
CMS approves new MRI standards related to remote scanning
Patients frequently fail to obtain follow-up imaging. Could radiologist-referrer disagreements be to blame?
Hospitals pilot policies to test older radiologists’ mental and physical fitness
Does placing a patient’s photograph in the EHR influence radiologist behavior?

Around the web

Health Imaging
Nearly $800,000 settlement offered to family of man who died during MRI exam

The patient, who was being cared for in the ICU, was not accompanied or monitored by nursing staff during his exam, despite being sedated.

Cardiovascular Business
Global shortage of nuclear imaging isotopes may be over

The nuclear imaging isotope shortage of molybdenum-99 may be over now that the sidelined reactor is restarting. ASNC's president says PET and new SPECT technologies helped cardiac imaging labs better weather the storm.

Cardiovascular Business
‘A huge win’: CMS significantly increases Medicare payments for cardiac CT

CMS has more than doubled the CCTA payment rate from $175 to $357.13. The move, expected to have a significant impact on the utilization of cardiac CT, received immediate praise from imaging specialists.