Norway Increases Trials of NZ Breast Screening Technology

26 November 2014

Norway Increases Trials of NZ Breast Screening Technology

The Cancer Registry of Norway is expanding trials of New Zealand breast imaging software Volpara Solutions to include seven of the 16 screening sites in the Norwegian Breast Cancer Screening Programme.

The programme has already installed the Wellington-based company’s software tool, VolparaDensity, in one of its sites to generate objective volumetric breast density assessments and is adding an additional six sites. It will also be using VolparaAnalytics software to monitor radiation dose, breast compression and other factors to ensure safe and consistent imaging and patient experience.

“The Norwegian Breast Cancer Screening Programme, as evidenced by the reduction in breast cancer mortality reported by researchers, is one of the leading mammographic screening programmes in the world,” said Ralph Highnam, Ph.D., Volpara Solutions CEO and chief scientist.

“We are honoured to work with them to incorporate Volpara’s quantitative software tools into several centres to evaluate the use of volumetric density and imaging performance data in improving the programme.”

Volpara Solutions, designed and developed by Wellington-based Matakina Technology Limited of which Dr Highnam is founding CEO, is a global success with 157 clinical installations across 32 countries and market leading position proven and validated by a wide range of independent clinical and market research.

The Norwegian Breast Screening Programme will be using the Volpara breast density measurements to look at reader performance in the context of the quality of the images they are seeing and the density of the population. Furthermore, research will be conducted looking at how in the future screening might be adjusted according to risk and breast type.

A 2013 study by the Cancer Registry of Norway found that the nationwide Norwegian mammographic screening programme reduced breast cancer mortality by 43 percent among attendees compared to non-attendees. Researchers estimate that this reduction corresponds to a reduction of more than 100 breast cancer deaths per year in a country with about 2.5 million female inhabitants. The researchers analysed breast cancer mortality among almost 700,000 women aged 50–69 who were invited to the programme during the period 1996–2009.

Volpara Solutions Limited, www.volparasolutions.com

About Volpara Solutions
Cleared by the FDA, HealthCanada, the TGA and CE-marked, VolparaDensity is in use at breast centres worldwide to help radiologists objectively assess density from both digital mammography and tomosynthesis images to more systematically evaluate who might benefit from additional screening. Highly correlated to breast MR assessments, VolparaDensity is a reliable tool that automatically generates an objective measurement of volumetric breast density correlated to the ACR (American College of Radiology) breast density categories.

To date, nearly 4-million women have had their breast density analysed using VolparaDensity. VolparaDensity is part of a suite of quantitative breast imaging tools built on the Volpara Solutions algorithm that allows for personalized measurements of density, patient dose, breast compression and other factors designed to help maintain accuracy and consistent quality in breast screening.

ENDS

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