Gamma Medica Partners With Medical Imaging, Inc. and Capital X-Ray, Inc. to Distribute LumaGEM® Molecular Breast Imaging to Women’s Breast Screening Centers

Actualizado: 30 Nov 2023, 12:56 PM EST Publicado: 06 Feb 2017, 07:53 AM EST

New partnerships enable more women than ever to receive molecular
breast imaging as a secondary screening method for dense breast tissue

SALEM, N.H.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Gamma
Medica, a leader in molecular breast imaging (MBI) technology, today
announced that it has partnered with Medical
Imaging, Inc. and Capital
X-Ray, Inc., leading providers of medical imaging equipment, to give
women in Georgia, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Idaho and parts of
Oregon, Montana, Wyoming and Washington State access to Gamma Medica’s LumaGEM^®
Molecular Breast Imaging (MBI) system.

Molecular Breast Imaging (MBI) is a secondary screening and diagnostic
tool for women with increased risk of breast cancer due to the presence
of dense breast tissue. Approximately 50 percent of U.S. women are
reported to have dense breast tissue¹; however, many women
are unaware that they have dense breasts and if they do, they may not
understand this could also mean an increased risk of breast cancer.
Because dense breast tissue and cancer both appear white on mammograms,
it can be difficult to distinguish between the two—it’s like trying to
find a snowflake in a snowstorm. This can lead to false negatives,
unwarranted biopsies or delayed diagnoses.²

“Through our partnerships with Capital X-Ray, Inc. and Medical Imaging,
Inc., women who previously did not have access to the secondary
screening technology will finally be able to experience more accurate
cancer screenings using LumaGEM MBI,” said Philip Croxford, Gamma Medica
president and CEO. “Each of our partners has well-established
relationships with care providers in their territories. By leveraging
their customer network, Gamma Medica will continue to meet the rising
demand for earlier cancer detection in women who are higher risk using
state of the art technology.”

A breakthrough retrospective clinical study published in the August
issue of the American
Journal of Roentgenology provided further clinical evidence that MBI
is an effective supplementary screening method to standard mammography
and/or tomosynthesis (3D mammography) in women who have dense breast
tissue or are at higher intrinsic risk of breast cancer. This study
reported that MBI was able to detect an additional 7.7 cancers per 1,000
women screened compared to mammography screening alone (3/1000). There
is also a two times improvement over ultrasound, a typical secondary
modality used today. In addition, approximately 85 percent of these
cancers were found to be invasive, of which 81 percent were node
negative, enabling cancers to be detected at an earlier stage and
presenting the patient with a likelihood of a better prognosis.³
This study complements an earlier published [2015] prospective blinded
study that was conducted by the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.⁴

“We pride ourselves in distributing the most advanced medical technology
on the market,” said Terry Stiff, president of Capital X-Ray, Inc.
“Through our partnership with Gamma Medica, we will continue providing
the latest imaging solutions to our clients, which will improve early
detection of breast cancer for women in the area.”

“Through our partnership with Gamma Medica, we will continue providing
the most cutting-edge imaging solutions to our clients and expand our
reach, improving early detection of breast cancer for women in the
area,” said Tim Powell, president of Medical Imaging, Inc.

To raise awareness about breast density and breast cancer screening
options, Gamma Medica launched the Be
Certain campaign. The campaign’s educational website aims to provide
the most accurate information for physicians, patients and caregivers by
sharing patient and physician testimonials, breast density facts and
statistics and the latest news relating to breast density and breast
screenings.

For more information about breast density and screening options, visit www.becertain.info.

About Gamma Medica, Inc.
Gamma Medica, Inc. is a women’s
health company focused on overcoming the limitations of anatomical
imaging experienced by mammography and other screening modalities in the
early detection of breast cancer. The company’s LumaGEM^® MBI
system is the first commercially available, FDA-cleared, fully
solid-state digital imaging system utilizing dual-head Digital Direct
Conversion Gamma Imaging™ (DDCGI™) technology for molecular breast
imaging. With over 90 percent sensitivity and specificity, LumaGEM MBI
has been shown to significantly improve cancer detection in women with
dense breast tissue with fewer false positives relative to anatomical
imaging technologies, such as MRI and whole breast ultrasound. For more
information visit, www.gammamedica.com.

About Medical Imaging, Inc.
Medical Imaging, Inc. has been
in business since 1986. Tim Powell purchased the company in 2011, and
business has been growing ever since. We now have offices in Boise and
Idaho Falls allowing us to service all of Idaho and the near half of the
surrounding states. Our passion is excellent customer service whether
you are buying new equipment or in need of service and support on your
existing equipment.

About Capital X-Ray, Inc.
Founded in 1987 and headquartered
in central Alabama with a branch office in Atlanta, GA, Capital X-Ray
has evolved into the largest independent radiology equipment, supply,
and service company in the Southeastern United States. With a service
and sales force that spans across Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama,
Georgia, and the Florida panhandle, Capital X-Ray has consistently
developed its market area while striving to provide customers with a
“start-to-finish” solution. From “ground-up” radiology suite planning,
room design/lead shielding plans, feasibility studies &
return-on-investment calculations, as well as installation &
applications training; Capital X-Ray is able to walk customers through
the entire setup and development of their imaging environment. Utilizing
Capital’s extensive product line – DR, CR, PACS, MRI, MBI, and analog
equipment – customers can rest assured that they are receiving top-notch
equipment as well as unbeatable service.

¹ Mayo Clinic. Dense breast tissue: What it means to have
dense breasts. http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/mammogram/in-depth/dense-breast-tissue/art-20123968
²
Mayo Clinic. Tests and Procedures Mammogram. http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/mammogram/in-depth/dense-breast-tissue/art-20123968?pg=2
³
Shermis RB, Wilson KD, Doyle MT, Martin TS, Merryman D, Kudrolli H,
Brenner RJ. Supplemental Breast Cancer Screening with Molecular Breast
Imaging for Women with Dense Breast Tissue. American Journal of
Roentgenology. 2016;207: 1-8. doi:10.2214/AJR15.15924.
⁴
Rhodes DJ, Hruska CB, Conners AL, et al. JOURNAL CLUB: Molecular Breast
Imaging at Reduced Radiation Dose for Supplemental Screening in
Mammographically Dense Breasts. American Journal of Roentgenology.
2015;204(2):241-251.