MagView Systems partners with R2 Technology to integrate software on R2's computer aided detection--CAD--system.

MagView Systems, a provider of software solutions for mammography reporting, tracking, and monitoring information, and R2 Technology, Inc., a developer of computer-aided detection (CAD), recently announced that the companies have entered into a development agreement involving R2's innovative CAD technology, designed to assist radiologists in the early detection of breast cancer. The non-exclusive agreement covers the integration of the MagView mammography reporting software and the CheckMate Ultra CAD display from R2's ImageChecker system.

"We are very excited about joining forces with R2 and providing total clinical solutions to mammography clinics and hospitals nationwide," said John Zink, director, MagView Systems. "The MagView Mammography Information System software implemented on R2's ImageChecker system will offer mammographers best of class tools in both computer-aided detection and mammography reporting software. We expect this will enhance workflow and provide more time for patient care."

The MagView Mammography Monitoring and Reporting Information System software was developed by the American College of Radiology (ACR) to implement the Breast Imaging and Data Systems (BI-RADS) method of standardizing mammography reporting. It offers a unique algorithm that builds clear and concise mammography reports without the need of time consuming manual data entry. MagView offers solutions for complete patient tracking and recall, outcome monitoring, MQSA statistical reporting, and direct access to breast health information. The MagView software can be incorporated into all mammography environments and hospital information systems.

The R2 ImageChecker system was originally approved by the FDA in 1998 for use with film-based screening mammography to assist radiologists in minimizing false negative readings. Based on expanded approvals in 2001 and 2002, the R2 ImageChecker is the only CAD system approved by the FDA for use with screening, diagnostic and digital mammography. The CheckMate display system from R2 is a stand-alone, on-line viewing option that can be integrated with one or more ImageChecker processing units.

Clinical trials demonstrated that use of the ImageChecker system could result in earlier detection of up to 23.4 percent of the cancers currently detected with screening mammography in those women who had a prior screening mammogram nine to 24 months earlier. This increased detection is calculated based on all breast cancers that exist, regardless of whether they are visible on the mammograms. The main benefit of CAD is that breast cancer detection is improved through the reduction of oversights due to the identification of visible features associated with cancer. The FDA recently approved a claim that states that use of the ImageChecker system on screening mammograms led to a clinically significant reduction in missed cancers (false negatives) of at least 33.6%.

Analogous to a spellchecker system on a personal computer, computer-aided detection is used by increasing numbers of radiologists as "a second pair of eyes" when reading a mammogram. This technology has the potential to detect findings that might otherwise be overlooked during the review process, thus increasing cancer detection. CAD technology also is especially effective in identifying calcifications, some of which can be cancerous. To date, R2 has shipped 700 film and digital-based systems worldwide and nearly five million mammograms have been interpreted with the aid of the ImageChecker CAD system.

"Like R2, MagView is committed to providing customers with innovative technology designed to improve the early detection of breast cancer," said Michael S. Klein, president and CEO of R2 Technology. "By collaborating efforts, R2 and MagView offer mammography clinics and hospitals a CAD solution that will also help standardize the management and reporting of breast imaging information."