Users ranked Hologic digital mammography systems higher than all other systems in the recently published KLAS Women's Imaging Report. The # 1 ranked system, Selenia Dimensions 2D, was tops in 19 of the 25 measures users were asked about.
APPROVALS
ACR Coding Guidance for C-View Images*On May 28th, the American College of Radiology (ACR) posted coding guidance for the C-View software. "When a screening breast tomosynthesis study is performed using the Hologic C-View for reconstruction of a two-dimensional tomosynthesis dataset, it is appropriate to report the unlisted diagnostic procedure code 76499 to describe the breast tomosynthesis study and HCPCS Level II "G" code G0202, Screening Mammography, producing direct digital image, bilateral, all views to describe the reconstruction of the two-dimensional tomosynthesis dataset."
| SCREENING | DIAGNOSTIC |
| Procedure | CPT Code | Procedure | CPT Code |
| 2D image | G0202 (bilateral) | 2D image | G0204 (bilateral)
orG0206 (unilateral) |
| Breast tomosynthesis | 76499 | Breast tomosynthesis | 76499 |
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| C-View Option 2D image generated from 3D image set | G0202 (bilateral) | C-View Option 2D image generated from 3D image set | G0204 (bilateral)
orG0206 (unilateral) |
| Breast tomosynthesis | 76499 | Breast tomosynthesis | 76499 |
NEW RESEARCH
First Large-Scale U.S. Population-Based Study (The Rose Study) Shows Hologic's 3D Technology Significantly Reduces Recall Rates While Simultaneously Improving Cancer Detection
The study, “Implementation of Breast Tomosynthesis in a Routine Screening Practice: An Observational Study,” was led by Dr. Stephen L. Rose, President and Founder of Rose Imaging, Medical Director of TOPS Comprehensive Breast Center, and Breast Radiologist affiliated with Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston, Texas, and published online in advance of print in the June 2013 issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR).
The analysis compared the outcomes of 2D mammography screening exams that were interpreted prior to the introduction of Hologic's 3D mammography, with screening exams after the introduction of 3D mammography into the practice.
The use of Hologic's 3D mammography resulted in:
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| • | | A significant 37% drop in recall rates—from 8.7% to 5.5%(p < 0.001)
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| • | | A 35% increase in cancer detection rates—from 4.0 to 5.4 per 1,000 screenings (p = 0.18)
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| • | | A 53% increase in invasive cancer detection rates—from 2.8 to 4.3 per 1,000 screening examinations (p = 0.07) |
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The study population included 13,856 women who had received conventional 2D mammography screening exams and 9,499 women who elected to receive a Hologic 3D mammography screening exam. The images were interpreted by one of six radiologists with an average 12 years of reading experience.
The Rose study is the first large U.S. breast cancer screening trial to report its results in a peer-reviewed journal. The findings are consistent with and supplementary to previously published studies including the Oslo Tomosynthesis Screening Trial (published inRadiology) and the Screening Tomosynthesis or Mammography (STORM) trial in Italy (published in The Lancet Oncology). All three studies confirm that adding Hologic 3D mammography technology to a 2D screening exam results in superior performance vs. 2D alone, as demonstrated by an increase in cancer detection rates coupled with a decrease in false-positive findings.
CR Mammography Found to Have Significant Limitations in Breast Cancer Screening
In a study titled “Digital Compared with Screen-Film Mammography: Performance Measures in Concurrent Cohorts within an Organized Breast Screening Program” published May 14th online in advance of print inRadiology, Anna Chiarelli, PhD, and her colleagues from Cancer Care Ontario in Toronto found computed radiography (CR) mammography had significant limitations in detecting cancers compared to digital radiography (DR) and screen-film (SF) mammography. The researchers studied over 816,000 screening mammograms on women aged 50 to 74 enrolled in the Ontario, Canada breast screening program.
In what the authors said was the first study of its kind, the researchers found:
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| • | | Cancer detection rates for DR (4.9 per 1000 mammograms) and SF mammography (4.8 per 1000 mammograms) were similar. The cancer detection rate was significantly lower for CR (3.4 per 1000).
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| • | | Recall rates were higher for DR and lower for CR than for SF.
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| • | | Positive predictive value was lower for CR than for SF; however, the adjusted odds were not significant. |
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The researchers concluded that the cancer detection rate for CR mammography was significantly lower than DR or SF mammography and recommended that screening programs should monitor the performance of CR separately and may consider informing women of the potentially lower cancer detection rates.
The CR mammography study sparked uproar in Canada over whether to continue using computed radiography mammography scanners. Ontario Health Minister Deb Matthews, PhD, ordered that CR machines in the province be scrapped. Of Ontario's 316 mammography machines, 76 use CR technology, 188 use DR, and 52 use film.
Canada's other provinces use only a handful of CR machines—except for Quebec, where CR devices constitute 108 of 144 total mammography scanners. And Quebec plans to keep using them, even though mammography patients have been barraging their physicians' offices with questions and concerns.
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Making the Business Case for Breast Tomosynthesis
3D Mammography Technology Brings Patients to the Hospital Breast Center and to the Hospital as a WholeStamford Hospital, Connecticut “We consider our investment in technology an investment in the health of the women we serve,” states David Sack, Director of Radiology at Stamford Hospital. “When I saw 3D mammography technology, I knew it made sense for our patients.”
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| Katherine Hollister, Stamford's Lead Mammography Technologist, prepares a patient for a 3D mammogram. |
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The not-for-profit hospital was the second site in the state of Connecticut to add breast tomosynthesis technology, installing its first system a few months after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the system. “Adding 3D mammography was the right thing for our patients,” Sack noted. “Plus, it fit our business plan and mission of building the best breast center in the region.” When the first 3D mammography system was installed, the hospital found itself in a unique situation. The technology was only available at one of the hospital's two imaging locations, but patients wanted access to the technology at both. It quickly became clear women preferred the 3D mammogram; and, more women were coming and asking for it, which created scheduling issues. So, in 2012, Stamford Hospital added two additional Hologic 3D mammography systems, and began offering the new technology to all screening patients. “The systems weren't budgeted, but it was the right thing to do,” explains Sack. “Our administration was convinced we were on the right path. They're very supportive of the Women's Breast Center.” “The immeasurable impact of more women coming to the Breast Center is the downstream revenue,“ Sack notes. “There are more people in the system. Plus, women make the healthcare decisions in the family. If they're coming to Stamford Hospital because we have leading-edge technology, they're probably going to want to bring the rest of their family here for other medical care as well.”
3D Mammography Provides Earlier Detection, Draws New Patients to Breast Care CenterMethodist Hospitals, Merrillville, IndianaThe Breast Care Center on the Merrillville campus of Methodist Hospitals, a not-for-profit, community-based healthcare system, was specially designed to deliver high-quality, personalized care in a relaxed, comfortable setting easily accessible to women in the community. Word of the new facility and its reputation for excellence spread quickly and just a short time after opening, the Center was attracting women from throughout northwest Indiana and seeing as many as six new patients daily.
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| L to R: Dr. Anastasia Siatras, Radiologist; Dr. Kenneth Segel, Radiologist; Jennifer Sanders, Mammography Manager; and Stacy Knox, Certified Breast Care Nurse Navigator. |
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The cornerstone of the Breast Center's imaging services is breast tomosynthesis, which sets the benchmark for care in the region, and ensures the Breast Center will remain at the forefront of breast healthcare for many years to come. The hospital has three Hologic Selenia Dimensions 3D mammography systems and provides the technology at both campuses to ensure all patients receive 3D screening mammograms. “We built our entire breast imaging concept around 3D imaging because we knew it was a landmark opportunity,” states Ian McFadden, President and CEO. “3D is one of the most innovative technologies we've seen in a long time and we were the first facility in Indiana, and one of the first fifty facilities in the country, to utilize this advanced breast imaging modality.” Using 3D technology, the staff already is seeing an increase in the early detection of smaller invasive cancers and a reduction in recalls for additional views. “We added 3D imaging because it improves patient care,” adds Dr. B.H. Barai, Medical Director of Methodist Hospitals' Oncology Institute. “With 3D we can detect cancer earlier, which translates into a higher probability of cure.”
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KLAS Women's Imaging Study on 2D mammography, ranks Hologic Selenia Dimensions 2D First |
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KLAS, a research firm specializing in monitoring and reporting on the performance of healthcare vendors, has published the second part of their two-part series on Women's Imaging Systems in use in the U.S. This is the third time that KLAS has looked at the Women's Imaging category, and the third time that a Hologic system has outperformed all other systems evaluated.
In the new report, the Selenia Dimensions outperformed all other 2D systems studied, earning a first place ranking on 19 of the 25 measures evaluated and a second place ranking on five of the six remaining measures.
Although the Hologic Selenia Dimensions 3D and Selenia systems were not fully evaluated in the new report, the author notes that the three Hologic systems ranked higher than any of the competitive mammography systems evaluated.
In a report published earlier this year, KLAS looked at the experiences of 50 Hologic tomosynthesis customers from 44 organizations that have been using the technology for at least 1 year. 90% said they are achieving a positive return on investment. ROI is not a result of traditional reimbursement or even patient fees—only 14 of the 44 customers surveyed said that they were charging.
Providers said tomosynthesis is indirectly building their bottom line because they are experiencing fewer false-positive call-backs and they are attracting more new patients. In fact, 89% who said they are getting a positive ROI said the technology has garnered new patients and referrals.
KLAS reports are available to healthcare providers at a significant discount. To purchase the reports visitwww.KLASresearch.com/KLASreports.
Want to learn more about breast tomosynthesis?
Contact Us
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Educational Opportunities
| Hologic both offers and supports many comprehensive educational programs and events that provide clinicians the opportunity to learn the most up-to-date information on their own field and, when possible, gain hands-on experience on the most technologically-advanced tools available in women's health. |
Hologic Live Technologist Training
Basics of Breast Tomosynthesis
July 13
Santa Clara, California
Master DXA: Workshops to Improve Your Skills & Grow Your Practice
September 12
Bedford, Massachusetts
Basics of Breast Tomosynthesis
September 14
San Diego, California
Stereotactic Breast Biopsy: Prone & Upright Procedural Tracks
September 19
Bedford, Massachusetts
Positioning in Mammography Matters & Radiation Concerns
October 17
Bedford, Massachusetts
Understanding Breast Tomosynthesis
October 18
Bedford, Massachusetts
| Hologic Supported Live Training**
Breast Imaging Boot Camp
July 30-August 1or
October 31-November 2
Reston, Virginia
Breast MR with Guided Biopsy
August 5-6
or
November 4-5
Reston, Virginia |
Upcoming Webinars**
Real World Tomo: Case Studies in Digital Breast Tomosynthesis
June 20
Hot Topics in Prostate MRI: Cancer Imaging & Biopsy ICPMEJuly 16 | Archived Webinars**
Bone Densitometry - Hologic
Breast MRI CASE Series for Radiologists - ICPME
Breast Tomosynthesis - ICME
Prostate Webinar Case Review - ICPME
Stereotactic Breast Biopsy -ICPME
Ultrasound-Guided Breast Biopsy - ICPME | Tomosynthesis Webinar Clips on YouTube**
Breast Tomosynthesis: Occult Radial Scar, ILC in Fatty Breast Tissue
Dr. Linda Greer
John C. Lincoln Breast Health and Research Center—Deer Valley Hospital, Phoenix, Arizona
» Watch video
Breast Tomosynthesis: Fatty Replaced Breast
Dr. Stephen L. Rose
Houston Breast Imaging, Houston, Texas
» Watch video |
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Hands-on Breast Tomosynthesis Seminars
Seminars are given by a leading radiologist using this technology in a screening and diagnostic practice. Locations/dates subject to change.
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| June |
| 21-22 — SOFMIS, Nice, France |
| 22 — Toronto, Canada |
| 26-27 — Senology Kongress, Munich, Germany |
| | The seminars range from 75-minute workshops to full-day training sessions. For more information, please contact your local Hologic representative or e-mailtomo.courses@hologic.com indicating the course date and location of interest.
Learn more about Hologic Medical Education offerings. |
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The views and opinions expressed herein are those of doctors and are not necessarily those of Hologic. This newsletter is intended for medical professionals and/or specific product users residing in the United States and other countries and should not be considered as a solicitation or promotion of any product or of an indication of any product that is not authorized by the laws and regulations of another country where the reader resides. This newsletter could refer to products that are or may not be available in any particular country, and/or may not have received market clearance by a governmental regulatory body for indications and restrictions in different countries.
* Hologic Inc. provides this coding guidance for informational purposes only. This guidance is not an affirmative instruction as to which CPT®/HCPCS codes and modifiers to use for a particular service, supply, procedure or treatment. It is the provider's responsibility to determine and submit the appropriate codes and modifiers for any service, supply, procedure or treatment rendered. Actual codes and/or modifiers used are at the sole discretion of the treating physician and/or facility. Contact your local carrier and payer organizations for specific coding guidelines. Hologic cannot guarantee medical benefit coverage or reimbursement with the codes listed in this guide. Any payment rates listed are Medicare averages that may be subject to change without notice. Reimbursement may differ based on geographic regional variance and/or policies and fee schedules outlined as terms in your health plan, payer and/or carrier contracts.
** Programs are supported by Hologic with an unrestricted educational grant.
Hologic, C-View, Dimensions, and Selenia are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Hologic and/or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or other countries. |
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