Volpara Solutions is calling recent changes in the breast density reporting categories a significant step toward more accurate density measurement.
The company provides the VolparaSolutions suite of volumetric breast imaging products, intended to improve the early detection of breast cancer.
The changes are included in the fifth edition of the BI-RADS Atlas issued by the American College of Radiology (ACR). The guide provides standardized breast imaging terminology, report organization, assessment structure, and a classification system for mammography, ultrasound, and MRI of the breast.
It also includes updated descriptors for breast composition, new descriptors for elasticity assessment in ultrasound, and new descriptors for implant assessment in MRI.
"We commend the ACR for proactively working to improve breast density assessment, which is critical to the identification of women who may benefit from supplemental imaging to improve the early detection of cancer," said Volpara CEO Ralph Highnam, PhD, in a written statement.
Breast composition measurement concerns the volume of attenuating tissue in the breast; by removing the old area-based percentage thresholds which have been proved subjective and imprecise, the revisions help clarify what breast density assessment should be and distinguishes density from other BI-RADS assessments, Highnam added.
