Breast MRI: New CME Program Launched.

Online Case Discussions and Hands-On Training Expands Confirma's Extensive Education Program

BELLEVUE, Wash. -- Confirma([R]), developer of CADstream([R]) and market leader in computer-aided detection (CAD) for breast MRI, announced that it has awarded an educational grant to the International Center for Postgraduate Medical Education (ICPME) to develop a new curriculum of continuing medical education for breast MRI. ICPME is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The breast MRI curriculum includes two separate programs that are supported by the educational grant from Confirma and there are no fees for participation. The first program is "Decisions in Medical Imaging - Breast MRI Analysis and Interpretation with CAD," a unique series of online case reviews using CAD to aid the radiologist in the analysis and interpretation of breast MRI studies. The next online session, "Breast MRI Analysis and Interpretation with CAD," will take place on August 22, 2007 from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. ET.

The second program is a full-day course of instruction and hands-on training for radiologists and interventional radiologists, "Breast MR Imaging, Interpretation and Intervention." The first courses will be held on October 11, 2007 in Littleton, CO, at the Denver Marriott South at Park Meadows, followed by courses in Los Angeles (January 17, 2008) and Dallas (February 1, 2008).

Breast MRI Today

While mammography and breast ultrasound are considered the "gold standard" for breast cancer detection, an increasing body of research data has shown breast MRI to be an effective diagnostic and interventional tool. With the recently updated breast screening guidelines issued by the American Cancer Society and the multi-center study published in The New England Journal of Medicine documenting the efficacy of MRI in detection of contralateral cancers in patients diagnosed with breast disease, it is expected that there will be an increased demand for breast MRI. However, there are significant challenges for practices wishing to offer breast MRI studies, including the vast amount of data produced, the lack of consistent standards in interpretation and the shortage of radiologists fully trained in the procedure. In addition, while extremely sensitive, breast MRI can produce false positives, leading to unnecessary biopsies.

"There are challenges associated with breast MRI and thus adequate training is essential," said David Gruen, M.D., medical director, The Suite for Women's Imaging at Norwalk, Norwalk, CT, and one of the faculty for the online case review program. "ICPME's new programs will enable more radiologists to become proficient and help meet the increasing demand for this important procedure. In addition, a recent study in the journal Radiology suggests CAD for breast MRI may assist radiologists in the analysis and discrimination of benign and malignant lesions, reducing the rate of false positives." Dr. Gruen completed his postgraduate training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where he worked closely with Dr. Elizabeth Morris' team on some of the earliest landmark studies of breast MRI.

Online Case Review, "Decisions in Medical Imaging -- Breast MRI Analysis and Interpretation with CAD"

The next live one-hour online case review for breast imaging professionals will take place on August 22, 2007 from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. ET. The lecture and case review will be presented by Christopher E. Comstock, M.D., associate clinical professor of radiology and director of breast imaging, University of California San Diego. The review will cover the use of CAD for the interpretation of breast MR images as a complement to the radiologist's initial interpretation. Dr. Comstock will detail how efficient post-processing and interpretation of the 1-2,000 images generated in a breast MR study can be achieved with the use of computer-aided detection (CAD) software. The lecture will provide an overview of breast MRI post-processing and interpretation using the American College of Radiologists (ACR) BI-RADS([R]) lexicon and a review of relevant case studies. For physicians, ICPME designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit. The educational activity will be certified for credit for both physicians and radiologic technologists. Registration information is available at http://www.icpme.us/live_courses/.

Full-Day Course, "Breast MR Imaging, Interpretation and Intervention"

The next full-day course of didactic and hands-on training for breast imaging professionals will be held on October 11, 2007 in Littleton, CO, at the Denver Marriott South at Park Meadows. The faculty includes Constance D. Lehman, M.D., Ph.D., director of radiology at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and professor of radiology at the University of Washington School of Medicine; and Christopher E. Comstock, M.D., associate clinical professor of radiology and director of breast imaging, University of California San Diego.

The full-day seminar is primarily intended to educate physicians who interpret breast MRI examinations and perform MRI-guided breast biopsies, and should also benefit referring physicians and technologists who order and perform breast imaging procedures. Educational objectives include assessing the clinical role of breast MRI in patient selection and the detection, diagnosis, and management of breast disease; developing standardized post-processing techniques to determine the morphology and kinetics of lesions in breast MRI; and accurately interpreting and reporting breast MR images in accordance with the ACR BI-RADS([R]). In afternoon breakout sessions, participants will have the opportunity to review cases using CAD workstations and to practice MRI-guided biopsy techniques using a breast biopsy system. This educational activity will be certified for a maximum of 6.5 credits for physicians and has been submitted to the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) for continuing education credit. Registration information is available at http://www.icpme.us/CMS/.

About ICPME

The International Center for Postgraduate Medical Education (ICPME) in Ithaca, NY, is a nationally accredited medical education company. Founded in 1993 as the Ithaca Center, ICPME was first accredited by the ACCME in 1997. ICPME is also accredited to provide certified education for nurses and pharmacists. The mission of ICPME is to provide independent, quality continuing education for physicians and other health care professionals with the goal being improved medical care for patients and communities.

About Confirma, Inc.

Confirma, Inc. develops and markets CAD systems and accessories for medical imaging. CADstream is the standard in CAD for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). CADstream automates the analysis and interventional guidance of MRI studies, providing higher quality imaging studies, lower costs for radiology practices and improved communication tools for physicians and patients. In its initial application, CADstream is being used to assist in the analysis, interventional guidance and reporting of breast MRI studies. CADstream is DICOM 3.0 compliant, allowing integration with any MRI scanner and PACS. The company plans to adapt its proven CAD technology to advance other medical imaging applications.

Confirma has established partnerships with companies including GE Healthcare, Philips Medical Systems, Bayer HealthCare, Medipattern, Vital Images and CARESTREAM. Confirma has partnered with hundreds of imaging centers and corporate partners worldwide since 2003, helping develop more standardized, high-performance breast MRI programs that deliver premium patient care. Confirma Europe GmbH opened operations in Berlin to further develop the European market. Frost & Sullivan recently recognized Confirma with the 2006 Industry Innovation and Advancement Award for the U.S. CAD market. For more information, visit www.confirma.com or call 877-811-2356.