Modern technologies in diagnostics

Nowadays, the development of technology has an immense impact in every area of our lives. Medicine, which derives huge benefits from technological progress, is one of such areas. Modern technologies set new standards in breast testing and provide more precise, effective and comfortable healthcare.

Currently, there are several popular breast examination methods:

1. Digital mammography is a modern method of diagnostic imaging which is replacing traditional analogue mammography. It uses digital detectors for high-speed image processing, which facilitates the archiving and analysis of results thanks to lower radiation doses and greater comfort for patients.
2. Tomosynthesis, also known as 3D mammography, is another step forward in breast diagnostics. This advanced technology generates three-dimensional images of breasts, thus eliminating ambiguities and increasing the accuracy of diagnosis. Tomosynthesis is particularly useful for dense breast tissue where standard mammography may be less effective.
3. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) also plays an important role in breast diagnostics, especially in case of patients characterized by an increased risk of disease. Breast MRI provides detailed information on breast structure and tissue, which enables a more accurate assessment of lesions and allows for referring patients for appropriate treatment.
4. With regard to innovative technologies, it is worth mentioning elastography, which measures the elasticity of breast tissue. Changes in elasticity may indicate the presence of tumors or other abnormalities. This tool is an important complement to traditional imaging examinations, and it supports diagnostics as well as enables doctors to assess tissue structure more accurately.
5. Recently, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in breast diagnostics is another breakthrough direction. AI algorithms are able to analyze vast amounts of radiological data, thus identifying patterns and helping clinicians to interpret results more quickly. This tool is not only helpful in detecting changes, but also in automatic sorting of cases by priority to speed up the diagnostic process.

Modern technologies in breast examination play an important role not only in diagnostics, but also in therapeutic management. Imaging techniques precisely target surgical interventions, enabling minimally invasive procedures and reducing recovery time. One might say that modern technologies revolutionize the field of breast examinations by improving their accuracy, accessibility and patient comfort. Thanks to progress in digital mammography, tomosynthesis, MRI, elastography and artificial intelligence, breast diagnostics are becoming more advanced and effective. This dynamic evolution contributes to improvement in treatment outcomes and increased chances of a full recovery for patients affected by breast diseases.

What does breast examination with the Invenia™ ABUS system look like?

Breast examination using the Invenia™ ABUS system (automated breast ultrasound) represents an innovative approach to ultrasound, especially in the context of breast cancer screening schemes. Traditional hand-held ultrasound scanners (HHUS) come with certain limitations, such as operator’s knowledge and skills as well as long time of data acquisition. Therefore, such examinations have become increasingly burdensome in the context of new applications such as screening tests.

The ABUS Invenia™ system effectively addresses these limitations by introducing the advanced Invenia imaging architecture. Specifically developed for screening of high-volume or dense tissue breasts, this architecture enables efficient insonation of large areas while significantly reducing the number of transmissions. This results in the rapid acquisition of high-quality volumetric data.

The ABUS Invenia imaging technology is based on wide-beam transmission. Electrical signals recorded from multiple wide-beam transmissions are coherently combined retrospectively to generate high-quality images with a high rate of frames per second. It is worth noting that by using powerful computer processors, mainly graphics processing units (GPUs), it is possible to eliminate focal zones, which leads to virtual sharpness throughout the volume. This, in turn, has an influence on improved consistency, reproducibility and sensitivity of such whole-breast ultrasound examinations.

One of the key strengths of the Invenia™ ABUS system is that it eliminates reliance on operator’s skills, which can be critical especially for screening schemes where it is necessary to quickly and accurately examine multiple patients in the shortest possible time. The reduced time of data acquisition contributes to the efficiency of the diagnostic process, and the uniform image quality across the entire breast volume increases confidence in the interpretation of the results.

Ultrasonography as a screening test

Ultrasonography (USG) is a proven and common diagnostic tool used for breast imaging. Thanks to its non-invasive, non-ionizing radiation, real-time capability and cost-effective nature, ultrasound has become an important screening method that complements mammography. Traditional hand-held ultrasound (HHUS) has certain limitations, such as variable quality depending on operator’s skills and long recording time, which makes it cumbersome for extensive screening to detect breast cancer. Furthermore, even the most automated breast ultrasound devices are not usually designed for breast screening.

For an imaging system to be successful in screening, it needs to meet specific criteria that traditional ultrasound imaging systems with a hand-held head are not always able to meet. Above all, it must enable volumetric imaging with a large field of view and a high rate of frames per second to enable a comprehensive examination of the entire breast in a single scan. Short scanning time is also an important aspect that can make the system practical for routine screening. To go beyond the traditional compromise between image quality and the rate of frames per second, the screening ultrasound system must deliver images with high resolution, contrast and uniformity, which makes it extremely sensitive and selective in identifying neoplastic lesions.

The Invenia Imaging Architecture has been specifically designed for high-volume screening to detect breast cancer. The unique requirements associated with this type of screening prompted significant innovations to the Invenia ABUS system, thus confirming its advanced diagnostic capabilities in the area of breast screening.

How does ABUS Invenia™ technology work?

Advantages and functioning of the Invenia™ ABUS 2.0 system:

1. Performance:

• Effective image viewing: The generated images are sent to the ABUS Viewer, where doctors can view and analyze them in no more than just three minutes. This shortens the diagnostic process and ensures quick result evaluation.

2. Advanced imaging technologies:

• CSound™ Imageformer technology: The system uses cSound™ Imageformer technology which allows for imaging considerable volumes with excellent image quality. Automatic optimization of manual ultrasound parameters contributes to clear images.
• Reverse Curve™ head: The use of the high-frequency Reverse Curve™ head eliminates ionizing radiation.

3. Patient’s comfort:

• Specially designed head: The Reverse Curve™ head is shaped taking into account women’s anatomy to enable full scanning of breast tissue. Constant and uniform pressure increases comfort during patient examination.

4. Image optimization:

• Smart imaging algorithms: The system uses smart algorithms to reduce image artefacts. These options are easily accessible at the touch of a single button to ensure excellent image quality and reproducible results.

5. Diagnostics using the ABUS Viewer:

• Transfer to the ABUS Viewer: The generated images are transferred to the ABUS Viewer which is designed to guarantee quick and efficient workflow.
• 3D representation in the transversalis fascia: The patented 2-millimeter transversalis fascia between the skin and the chest wall enables quick and intuitive analysis, even in cases of difficult breast anatomy and pathology.

Why choose INVENIA 3D?

• Modernity and automatic scanning: The INVENIA ABUS 3D is a state-of-the-art diagnostic apparatus that performs automated ultrasound scans of breasts in 2 millimeter increments, thus allowing the entire breast gland tissue to be accurately visualized in 3D in just 15 minutes.
• Non-invasive and painless: The test is non-invasive and it does not cause pain, which contributes to proactive and personalized breast protection for patients.

In summary, Invenia ABUS 2.0 offers speed, precision and comfort for both medical staff and patients thanks to its advanced imaging technologies and an innovative approach to breast cancer diagnostics.

Who can take advantage of this examination?

Approximately 40% of all women worldwide have dense breast tissue. From a medical perspective, this phenomenon entails a four- to six-fold increased risk of breast cancer. Standard mammographic screening is not fully effective in case of dense breast tissue, with up to approximately 33% of cancers in this patient group remaining undetected.

The Invenia ABUS 2.0 system is specifically designed to detect cancer in dense breast tissue. Used as an examination complementary to mammography, the Invenia ABUS 2.0 system provides a non-invasive, radiation-free, automated 3D breast ultrasound. This innovative system ensures image optimization, which results in precise and reproducible results. The process of analyzing the obtained images and the diagnosis usually take just a few minutes.

How does the test go?

Breast ultrasound using the INVENIA ABUS 3D is performed by a specialist X-ray technician who has completed individual training covering ultrasound technology, anatomy, ABUS recording and image quality analysis. A certified X-ray technician performs the examination directly, and their competence is regularly confirmed by annual certifications on site.

The examination process with the use of INVENIA ABUS 2.0 is an automated volumetric breast scan. The examination is totally non-invasive and painless. The technology offers automatic volumetric 3D ultrasound scanning, including image optimization, which results in precise and reproducible images, subject to effective evaluation by a medical doctor.

Following the examination, the generated images are sent to the ABUS Viewer which is adapted to offer a quick and efficient image workflow. 3D volumes are represented in a patented 2-millimeter-thick coronal layer from the skin to the chest wall.

In order to provide accurate interpretation and a consistent diagnostic method, the team of specialist doctors participates in an interactive Mastery program and in multimedia peer-to-peer processing of examples, which enables rapid improvement of skills and precise analysis of results.

The examination report includes comprehensive information such as the patient's personal data and contact details, the history of previous examinations, a description of the structure of the mammary gland with the specification of the type of structure on the BIRADS and ACR scales, as well as images of “scans” of three planes from each breast. Depending on the result of the examination, the patient may receive further recommendations, such as next examinations after one year, consultations with specialists, or recommendations for further diagnostics such as mammography, biopsy or mammotomy.

Collection of test result

Options for receiving test results:

• Collection in person or by an authorized person

The patient is notified via telephone when the result is ready for collection. The patient or an authorized person can come to collect the result on the day of the test. The result is issued only upon presentation of a proof of identity with a photo to confirm the identity of the person receiving the test result.

• Sending the results to the indicated e-mail address

The interpretation of the examination prepared by a radiologist is sent as a coded file to the e-mail address given during registration. A password needed to open the result is sent to the indicated telephone number.

• Sending the results to the specified postal address

The patient’s test result can be sent by post (within up to 14 business days) to the address specified by the patient in the authorization completed during registration. It is not possible to send test results by post if the patient has not provided a specific address or has only requested shipment verbally.