Why is Ultrasound Scanning of the dense Breast not the Standard of Care Yet?
Hand Held Ultrasound Is Not Optimal as the Standard of Care for Assessment of Dense Breasts
Monday, April 8, 2024
9:50am – 10:15am
Location: 400-402
3D ultrasound technology is the only technology outside of mammography that is FDA cleared for breast density measurement. We show results from peer reviewed literature for AUC of ROC's showing that 3D ultrasound tomography (3D UT) is an optimal FDA cleared device for imaging dense breasts. 3D UT images are high resolution, quantitative, repeatable, high detectability, operator independent, and speckle free. They look very similar to MRI but are less costly. We show the physical principles which show why 3D model reconstructions are critical and how ultrasound energy cannot be sampled in a slice but requires volumetric reconstruction and data acquisition. The repercussions for removing artifacts are shown. We show 3D images (coronal, axial and sagittal ) that indicate that indicate the perspicuity of lesions, cysts, fibroadenomas, and cancers. We also show the relevant new biomarkers for disease and ML, tissue segmentation and quantitative accuracy of speed of sound reconstruction, and other intrinsic tissue parameters. These images are unique to 3D ultrasound tomography which is a developing technology, which is FDA cleared, has been given breakthrough designation by the FDA and is available now. Images are similar to MRI, but have intrinsic quantitative information, comparable resolution but no Gadolinium CA is required for high CNR images. 3D ultrasound technology is the only technology outside of mammography that is FDA cleared for breast density measurement. We articulate and defend the position that 3D Ultrasound Tomography is poised to replace MRI and HHUS as a standard of care for Dense breasts.