Gamma Medica Partners With Medical Imaging, Inc. and Capital X-Ray, Inc. to Distribute LumaGEM® Molecular Breast Imaging to Women’s Breast Screening Centers

New partnerships enable more women than ever to receive molecular breast imaging as a secondary screening method for dense breast tissue

SALEM, N.H.--()--Gamma Medica, a leader in molecular breast imaging (MBI) technology, today announced that it has partnered with Medical Imaging, Inc. and Capital X-Ray, Inc., leading providers of medical imaging equipment, to give women in Georgia, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Idaho and parts of Oregon, Montana, Wyoming and Washington State access to Gamma Medica’s LumaGEM® Molecular Breast Imaging (MBI) system.

Molecular Breast Imaging (MBI) is a secondary screening and diagnostic tool for women with increased risk of breast cancer due to the presence of dense breast tissue. Approximately 50 percent of U.S. women are reported to have dense breast tissue1; however, many women are unaware that they have dense breasts and if they do, they may not understand this could also mean an increased risk of breast cancer. Because dense breast tissue and cancer both appear white on mammograms, it can be difficult to distinguish between the two—it’s like trying to find a snowflake in a snowstorm. This can lead to false negatives, unwarranted biopsies or delayed diagnoses.2

“Through our partnerships with Capital X-Ray, Inc. and Medical Imaging, Inc., women who previously did not have access to the secondary screening technology will finally be able to experience more accurate cancer screenings using LumaGEM MBI,” said Philip Croxford, Gamma Medica president and CEO. “Each of our partners has well-established relationships with care providers in their territories. By leveraging their customer network, Gamma Medica will continue to meet the rising demand for earlier cancer detection in women who are higher risk using state of the art technology.”

A breakthrough retrospective clinical study published in the August issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology provided further clinical evidence that MBI is an effective supplementary screening method to standard mammography and/or tomosynthesis (3D mammography) in women who have dense breast tissue or are at higher intrinsic risk of breast cancer. This study reported that MBI was able to detect an additional 7.7 cancers per 1,000 women screened compared to mammography screening alone (3/1000). There is also a two times improvement over ultrasound, a typical secondary modality used today. In addition, approximately 85 percent of these cancers were found to be invasive, of which 81 percent were node negative, enabling cancers to be detected at an earlier stage and presenting the patient with a likelihood of a better prognosis.3 This study complements an earlier published [2015] prospective blinded study that was conducted by the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.4

“We pride ourselves in distributing the most advanced medical technology on the market,” said Terry Stiff, president of Capital X-Ray, Inc. “Through our partnership with Gamma Medica, we will continue providing the latest imaging solutions to our clients, which will improve early detection of breast cancer for women in the area.”

“Through our partnership with Gamma Medica, we will continue providing the most cutting-edge imaging solutions to our clients and expand our reach, improving early detection of breast cancer for women in the area,” said Tim Powell, president of Medical Imaging, Inc.

To raise awareness about breast density and breast cancer screening options, Gamma Medica launched the Be Certain campaign. The campaign’s educational website aims to provide the most accurate information for physicians, patients and caregivers by sharing patient and physician testimonials, breast density facts and statistics and the latest news relating to breast density and breast screenings.

For more information about breast density and screening options, visit www.becertain.info.

About Gamma Medica, Inc.
Gamma Medica, Inc. is a women’s health company focused on overcoming the limitations of anatomical imaging experienced by mammography and other screening modalities in the early detection of breast cancer. The company’s LumaGEM® MBI system is the first commercially available, FDA-cleared, fully solid-state digital imaging system utilizing dual-head Digital Direct Conversion Gamma Imaging™ (DDCGI™) technology for molecular breast imaging. With over 90 percent sensitivity and specificity, LumaGEM MBI has been shown to significantly improve cancer detection in women with dense breast tissue with fewer false positives relative to anatomical imaging technologies, such as MRI and whole breast ultrasound. For more information visit, www.gammamedica.com.

About Medical Imaging, Inc.
Medical Imaging, Inc. has been in business since 1986. Tim Powell purchased the company in 2011, and business has been growing ever since. We now have offices in Boise and Idaho Falls allowing us to service all of Idaho and the near half of the surrounding states. Our passion is excellent customer service whether you are buying new equipment or in need of service and support on your existing equipment.

About Capital X-Ray, Inc.
Founded in 1987 and headquartered in central Alabama with a branch office in Atlanta, GA, Capital X-Ray has evolved into the largest independent radiology equipment, supply, and service company in the Southeastern United States. With a service and sales force that spans across Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, and the Florida panhandle, Capital X-Ray has consistently developed its market area while striving to provide customers with a “start-to-finish” solution. From “ground-up” radiology suite planning, room design/lead shielding plans, feasibility studies & return-on-investment calculations, as well as installation & applications training; Capital X-Ray is able to walk customers through the entire setup and development of their imaging environment. Utilizing Capital’s extensive product line – DR, CR, PACS, MRI, MBI, and analog equipment – customers can rest assured that they are receiving top-notch equipment as well as unbeatable service.

1 Mayo Clinic. Dense breast tissue: What it means to have dense breasts. http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/mammogram/in-depth/dense-breast-tissue/art-20123968
2 Mayo Clinic. Tests and Procedures Mammogram. http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/mammogram/in-depth/dense-breast-tissue/art-20123968?pg=2
3 Shermis RB, Wilson KD, Doyle MT, Martin TS, Merryman D, Kudrolli H, Brenner RJ. Supplemental Breast Cancer Screening with Molecular Breast Imaging for Women with Dense Breast Tissue. American Journal of Roentgenology. 2016;207: 1-8. doi:10.2214/AJR15.15924.
4 Rhodes DJ, Hruska CB, Conners AL, et al. JOURNAL CLUB: Molecular Breast Imaging at Reduced Radiation Dose for Supplemental Screening in Mammographically Dense Breasts. American Journal of Roentgenology. 2015;204(2):241-251.

Contacts

Racepoint Global
Tara Kadioglu, 617-624-3239
gammamedica@racepointglobal.com

Contacts

Racepoint Global
Tara Kadioglu, 617-624-3239
gammamedica@racepointglobal.com