The Hospital of Central Connecticut (HOCC) has become the first facility in Connecticut to adopt VolparaDensity breast imaging software, Matakina International has announced. The installation will allow volumetric breast density testing at 6 HOCC facilities.

“Utilizing VolparaDensity allows us to remove the subjectivity from the evaluation of breast density to be more consistent in our measurements, from time to time, image to image, mammogram to mammogram, and radiologist to radiologist,” said Jean Weigert, director of breast imaging at HOCC. “If we base decisions to perform more testing on subjective values, we may include women who do not need supplemental imaging and exclude women who do. This automated, volumetric density measurement tool helps ensure that the proper women are being evaluated in a proper, consistent manner.”

Weigert previously presented a paper co-authored with Sarah Steenbergen, MD, of Yale University at the 2013 annual meeting of the American Roentgen Ray Society evaluating the impact of Connecticut’s breast density inform bill on cancer findings. The study “A Connecticut Initiative: Screening Breast Ultrasound in Women With Dense Breasts—Two Years of Data” showed that using ultrasound in addition to mammography for women with breast density above 50% could identify additional cancers with 98.5% sensitivity and 95.6% specificity.

“Before the Connecticut density inform law was enacted, I was not convinced that we had enough data to support an expanded screening program,” said Weigert. “Now, research confirms that we are finding more cancers, and I believe that the ability to give reliable breast density information to patients not only improves screening but makes me a better doctor in the process.”

VolparaDensity assigns an objective volumetric breast density measurement based on the FDA-approved BI-RADS standards. The software is compatible with all major commercial digital mammography systems, including GE, Siemens, Fuji, Philips, IMS Giotto, Medi-Future, and Hologic.

For more information, visit The Hospital of Central Connecticut and Matakina International.