Scripps Health - All News for Imaging

Scripps Announces Arrival of San Diego’s First 3-D Mammography Technology

2012-05-01T10:31:31-07:00

Encinitas, Calif. – San Diegans now have access to a new, highly advanced breast cancer diagnostic tool that improves the clarity and reliability of test results, with Scripps Health’s recent acquisition of 3-D digital breast tomosynthesis technology.

Scripps recently began using the software with patients at Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas and plans to expand it to more of its facilities. Scripps is San Diego County’s only health care provider to offer 3-D mammography technology, which was approved by the FDA in February 2011. In California, only four other health care facilities currently offer this technology.

Used with existing digital mammography equipment, the breast tomosynthesis software utilizes high-powered computing to convert digital breast images into a stack of very thin layers, which creates a 3-D reconstruction of the breast. The 3-D model allows the physician to examine breast tissue 1 millimeter at a time.

This approach stands in contrast to the flat images produced by traditional 2-D digital mammography, which generates overlapping images that can appear cloudy. Overlapping can cause problems such as obscuring signs of cancer, or mimicking signs of a tumor where none exists.

“When it comes to breast imaging, less tissue overlap translates into clearer images of the patient’s tissue, which allows for a more definitive diagnosis,” said Dr. Kris Van Lom, chairman of the department of radiology at Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas. “Having a more reliable view of the breast tissue will help us be more effective in discovering early-stage breast cancers, while in some cases reducing the number of ‘false positives’ and the need for additional tests or biopsies.”

Any patient requiring a breast exam can benefit from breast tomosynthesis. The technology is being made available to all breast imaging patients at Scripps Encinitas, and educational materials are provided to all patients in advance.

A tomosynthesis exam is very similar to a traditional digital mammogram in both time and format. The technologist positions the patient, compresses the breast under a paddle and takes images from different angles. During the tomosynthesis portion of the exam, the X-ray arm of the mammography machine makes a quick arc over the breast, taking a series of breast images at a number of angles.

In the United States, breast cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death among women, exceeded only by lung cancer. The stage at which breast cancer is detected influences a woman’s chance of survival. If found and treated early while still localized in the breast, the 10-year survival rate for breast cancer is greater than 90 percent.

By June 2012, Scripps also plans to have tomosynthesis technology available for patients at Scripps Polster Breast Care Center at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla.

The addition of digital breast tomosynthesis is the latest example of technological advances in cancer care at Scripps. Currently under construction are the Scripps Proton Therapy Center (expected to open in April 2013) and the Scripps Radiation Treatment Center (expected to open in August 2012), both of which will featuring the latest technology for patient care.

Cancer care at Scripps is provided through Scripps Cancer Center, a nationally recognized leader in cancer care, providing comprehensive care at Scripps’ four hospitals and various Scripps Clinic locations. With more than 300 affiliated physicians, Scripps Cancer Center seeks to provide the best possible treatment and cutting-edge research trials for patients by coordinating medical expertise in the areas of clinical cancer care, community outreach and clinical, translational and basic research.

Scripps is the only cancer care provider in San Diego to earn network accreditation from the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer. Scripps Polster Breast Care Center at Scripps La Jolla and the Breast Care Center at Scripps Green Hospital have earned accreditation from the American College of Surgeons’ National Accreditation Program for Breast Cancer Centers (NAPBC). The Breast Care Center at Scripps Green Hospital has also earned accreditation in radiation therapy from the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) and the American College of Radiology (ACR).

About Scripps Health

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La Jolla Radiology Medical Group Joins Scripps

2011-12-01T14:18:25-08:00

Scripps Health announced today that the 27 physicians of the highly regarded La Jolla Radiology Medical Group are joining Scripps Clinic Medical Group in a deal completed today to offer comprehensive radiology services at Scripps facilities across the region.

“This is an ideal partnership based on a mutual goal for excellence in care,” said Robert Sarnoff, president of Scripps Clinic Medical Group. “This partnership will provide additional resources to the comprehensive level of care we provide our patients.”

Scripps Clinic includes more than 400 physicians practicing in more than 50 areas of medicine and surgery. Scripps Health contracts for the exclusive services of the Scripps Clinic Medical Group physicians through the Scripps Medical Foundation.

Physicians of the former La Jolla Radiology Medical Group will continue to provide patient services in locations throughout the county, including La Jolla, Encinitas and Chula Vista.

The La Jolla Radiology Medical Group has had a long-standing relationship with Scripps Health, and a solid history of quality care. Many of the group’s physicians have been recognized by their peers as some of the top doctors in the county. These well-respected physicians provide their patients with a variety of imaging services, including interventional radiology; oncology therapies; and women’s health imaging, including bone density screening and mammograms.

“We are looking forward to continuing our radiology practice as part of Scripps Clinic,” said Ross Christensen , former president of La Jolla Radiology Medical Group. “This partnership allows us to continue to provide the highest level of care to the San Diego community in conjunction with the mission of Scripps.”

Seven medical groups have joined Scripps since 2008, including La Jolla Radiology Medical Group, Sharp Mission Park Medical Group, Penn Elm Medical Group, Del Mar Medical Clinic, North Coast Women’s Care, North County OB-GYN Medical Group and Del Mar Family Practice.

New Scripps Study First to Validate Usefulness of Pocket Ultrasound

2011-06-29T14:50:53-07:00

San Diego – Nearly 200 years after the introduction of the stethoscope, the accuracy of a pocket ultrasound device that enables a physician to “look” at a patient’s heart during routine physical exams has been validated for the first time in peer-reviewed research led by Scripps Translational Science Institute (STSI) and Scripps Health.

Roughly the size of a smartphone, the Vscan pocket ultrasound used for point of care assessment of heart health could significantly reduce costs from traditional echocardiograms and improve the quality of care. Research was published in the July 5 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

“Pocket echos used during physical examinations may have the potential to reduce the number of unnecessary echocardiograms, particularly when used by a clinician trained in obtaining and interpreting the images,” said Dr. Eric J. Topol, cardiologist at Scripps Clinic, chief academic officer at Scripps Health, director of Scripps Translational Science Institute and principal investigator on the study. “Approximately 20 million echocardiograms are conducted in the U.S. every year, each costing $1,500 or more and requiring a return appointment for a hospital or clinic echo laboratory for an extended session of about 45 minutes. A pocket echocardiogram could significantly reduce costs and improve the quality of the patient experience.”

Watch video

See how this “digital reinvention of the stethoscope” works with patients.

Duration: 00:02:13.6

Research showed that Vscan provided accurate assessments of ejection fraction, a measurement of how well the heart is pumping, and other measures for assessing heart health in patients. In the study, physicians evaluated the hearts of 97 patients using the Vscan pocket ultrasound device to visually assess various heart structures within a five-minute timeframe in order to simulate the length of time of a physical examination. Conclusions drawn from these imaging results were compared to conclusions drawn from imaging results also obtained from standard transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) machines.

The study evaluated the ability of the observer to visualize heart structures as well as accuracy in interpreting the images. The study also calculated difference in accuracy between cardiology attending physicians and less experienced cardiology fellows with two months or less training in echocardiographic interpretation.

“The traditional stethoscope was invented in 1816, but that instrument is more accurately described as a ‘stethophone’ as it only allows us to listen rather than look at the heart. The Vscan allows the doctor and patient together to look at the patient’s heart during a routine physical exam,” said Dr. Topol. “The echocardiogram and other current imaging techniques offer a view inside the chest. However, these are big expensive machines that require a significant amount of time to get test results. A convenient pocket device could provide doctors and patients with important information about heart health immediately, right at the point of care.”

The Vscan pocket ultrasound is roughly the size of a smartphone.

In the study, pocket ultrasound images were adequate for visualizing ejection fraction 95 percent of the time, wall motion abnormality 83 percent of the time, left ventricular end-diastolic dimension 95 percent of the time, pericardial effusion 94 percent of the time, mitral valve 90 percent of the time, aortic valve 82 percent of the time, and inferior vena cava (the large vein carrying blood to the heart) size 75 percent of the time. Accuracy of interpretation of pocket ultrasound images was highest when assessing ejection fraction and aortic valve, and lowest when assessing inferior vena cava size.

Accuracy and between-physician agreement was higher for experienced cardiologists than for less experienced cardiology fellows.

“Cardiologists rarely review echocardiogram images with their patients. With this pocket ultrasound device, a cardiologist can educate a patient about his or her heart condition while looking at real-time images, restoring a more intimate doctor-patient experience,” added Dr. Topol. “Looking ahead, medical schools might one day be giving these devices to students on their first day of school to become facile with pocket ultrasound as a powerful imaging tool which in many ways will replace the traditional stethoscope.”

This study is an extension of Scripps’ leadership in heart care and research. Scripps recently broke ground on the $456 million Scripps Cardiovascular Institute (SCI), a center for innovation that will bring together top researchers, physicians and staff. SCI will incorporate leading-edge wireless technologies and individualized medicine for the best in patient care when it opens in 2015.

Annually, more than 55,000 patients receive their cardiovascular care from Scripps, making it San Diego County’s largest heart care provider. Scripps is the region’s only cardiovascular program consistently recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best in the country.

Vscan manufacturer General Electric provided no funding for the study. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health’s flagship Clinical and Translational Science Award grant awarded to The Scripps Research Institute, which then partnered with Scripps Translational Science Institute.

About Scripps Translational Science Institute

Founded in 2006, Scripps Translational Science Institute (STSI) is an initiative of Scripps Health, in collaboration with The Scripps Research Institute. STSI initiates research designed to help move basic research from the lab to the patient bedside, bridging the gap between basic science and clinical trials.

STSI aims to replace the status-quo of one-size-fits-all-medicine with individualized health care that is based on the known genetic factors influencing health and disease and that takes advantage of advances in digital technology for real-time health monitoring. For more information about STSI, see www.stsiweb.org.

About Scripps Health

Learn more about Scripps Health, a nonprofit health system in San Diego, Calif.

Scripps Cardiologist Believes MRIs are Safe for Patients with Pacemakers

2011-03-15T16:26:11-07:00

A story in the Mar. 6, 2011 San Diego Union-Tribune discusses the safety of MRI for patients with pacemakers. Scripps Clinic cardiologist Dr. Robert Russo believes that carefully-controlled MRIs can be done on patients with pacemakers and he’s launched a clinical study to test his theory.

If he’s correct, his study could have widespread impact since an estimated 50-75 percent of people with pacemakers and implanted defibrillators are likely to need an MRI as they age.

Read more in the UT article: Are MRIs safe for patients with pacemakers?

Media Contact: Lisa Ohmstede
Phone: 858-626-7142
E-mail: ohmstede.lisa@scrippshealth.org

Circle of Life 100 Celebration: Wine, Women & Shoes Puts Best Foot Forward to Benefit Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas

2010-08-13T09:14:16-07:00

Pairing fabulous fashion and exquisite wine, the Sixth Annual Circle of Life 100 Celebration: Wine, Women & Shoes, will be held on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2010, from 4 to 8 p.m. The luxurious night out will benefit advanced women’s diagnostic imaging technology at Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas, which is vital to the detection of breast cancer.

Guests will enjoy wine and food tastings while shopping for high-fashion shoes and accessories at the beautiful Rancho Santa Fe estate of Laura and Fred Applegate. A longtime philanthropist and community leader in North County, the Applegates looks forward to hosting the event this year.

“Breast cancer has touched so many lives,” says Laura Applegate. “This event is not only a fun evening out for friends, but an opportunity to help enhance lifesaving cancer care for our sisters, mothers, loved ones and friends. I am so proud to be a part of the event and support the health and well-being of women in our community.”

All proceeds from the event will benefit breast-specific gamma imaging (BSGI) at Scripps Encinitas. The nonprofit hospital will be one of only a few hospitals in California providing access to this innovative technology, which is advancing the detection and diagnosis of breast cancer.

“BSGI represents a substantial advance in the detection of breast cancer and is a useful tool for newly diagnosed patients, as it can more precisely define the extent of tumor than mammography,” says Robert Varney, MD, staff radiologist at Scripps Encinitas. “We are excited to add BSGI to our comprehensive breast imaging services at Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas.”

Tickets for the Sixth Annual Circle of Life 100 Celebration: Wine Women & Shoes are $125 per person. For more information, please call 858-678-7346 or visit www.winewomenandshoes.com/scrippshealth.

Circle of Life 100 is a service organization that advocates for health education and philanthropy in support of Scripps Encinitas.

Contact: Kari Banigo
Phone: 858-678-6894
E-mail: banigo.kari@scrippshealth.org

Imaging Scans at Scripps La Jolla Used to Learn More About Mummies

2010-06-07T10:51:02-07:00

Scientists at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla were able to glimpse into the past thanks to the use of modern technology. In a recent article in the San Diego Union-Tribune, the imaging department from Scripps La Jolla used CT and MRI scans to learn more about the lives and deaths of four Peruvian mummies that were on display at the San Diego Museum of Man.

Read Scientists Peer into Past Lives

To read more articles about the Peruvian mummies at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, see:

Media Contact: Lisa Ohmstede
Phone: 858-626-7142
E-mail: ohmstede.lisa@scrippshealth.org

Circle of Life 100 to Honor Marilyn Stark

2010-06-01T15:16:50-07:00

In honor of her dedication and service to Circle of Life 100 and Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas, Marilyn Stark will be awarded the 2010 Distinguished Achievement Award at a special luncheon on Thursday, June 24, 2010.

As founder and first chair of Circle of Life 100, Marilyn has played a major role in developing the service organization into a leading advocate for health education and philanthropy in support of Scripps Encinitas.

Soon after moving to Carlsbad in 1998, Marilyn envisioned a group of women leaders who would collectively dedicate their time and talent to support the nonprofit hospital. In anticipation of the organization’s first meeting, she sent out invitations which read, “Scripps Encinitas needs a few good women.” More than 30 women attended and the group has been growing ever since.

Today, members of Circle of Life 100 support Scripps Encinitas and its commitment to meet the health care needs of the community, hosting regular health education seminars and an annual Circle of Life 100 fundraising event.

“I am so proud that Circle of Life 100 has flourished,” says Marilyn. “I consider Scripps family, and hope we can continue to raise awareness and funds to support the nonprofit hospital.”

This year, Circle of Life 100 continues its tradition of philanthropy with the Sixth Annual Circle of Life 100 Celebration: Wine, Women & Shoes, on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2010. The event will benefit women’s diagnostic imaging at Scripps Encinitas, which is vital to detecting breast cancer at its earliest stages.

“As a women’s organization, this cause is close to our hearts. All of us are connected with someone who has had cancer,” says Marilyn. “North County has seen so much growth in recent years, having an imaging center has become necessary. It is critical that the latest technology is easily accessible for our friends, family and community.”

Circle of Life 100 is a service organization that advocates for health education and philanthropy in support of Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas. For more information, call 760-633-6523 or visit www.winewomenandshoes.com/scrippshealth.

Contact: Kari Banigo
Phone: 858-678-6894
E-mail: banigo.kari@scrippshealth.org

Scripps Supports Existing ‘Gold Standard’ Guidelines for Screening Mammograms

2009-11-25T14:03:47-08:00

SAN DIEGO – After extensive review of the proposed guidelines for breast cancer screening set forth by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) on Nov. 17, 2009, the Scripps Breast Cancer Task Force recommends that women continue to follow the same “gold standard” screening mammography guidelines supported by the American Cancer Society, the American College of Radiologists and the American College of Surgeons.

Those guidelines include:

Monthly breast self-exams beginning at age 20
Annual clinical breast exams with a physician or other health care practitioner
Baseline mammogram at age 40 followed by annual screening mammograms
Discussion of individual needs and concerns with a physician if a woman is at greater risk due to a personal or family history of the disease

“The recent USPSTF guidelines have created concern and confusion for Scripps patients and other women throughout the country,” says William Stanton, MD, chair of the Scripps Network Cancer Program. “We strongly urge our patients to address their individual needs and concerns directly with their physicians.”

The Scripps Breast Cancer Task Force acknowledges the additional financial cost for screening mammograms beginning at age 40 instead of 50. However, since 28 percent of women with newly diagnosed breast cancer at Scripps are under the age of 50, the Scripps Task Force weighs that cost against the number of lives that are potentially saved by beginning screening mammograms at age 40.

“We looked closely at these new findings and the methodology behind them, as we do all new research,” says Paul Goldfarb, MD, chair of the Scripps Breast Cancer Task Force. “Yet, we still believe that clinical breast exams coupled with annual screening mammograms beginning at age 40, give most women the best chance for detecting breast cancer in its earliest, most curable stage.”

Scripps will continue to review and evaluate new data on breast cancer detection as it becomes available. As always, Scripps will keep patients’ and women’s best interests at the forefront of any recommendations regarding screening mammograms or new methods of early detection of breast cancer.

ABOUT SCRIPPS HEALTH

Founded in 1924 by philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps, Scripps Health is a $2 billion nonprofit community health system based in San Diego, Calif. Scripps treats a half-million patients annually through the dedication of 2,600 affiliated physicians and 12,700 employees among its five acute-care hospital campuses, home health care services, and an ambulatory care network of clinics, physician offices and outpatient centers.

Recognized as a leader in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, Scripps is also at the forefront of clinical research and graduate medical education.

In 2008, Scripps committed more than $150 million in capital and facility improvements across the San Diego region while providing significant charity care to the community – more than $268 million in uncompensated care in 2008. Scripps Health Foundation generated $46 million in charitable donations in 2008 to support the Scripps mission.

Contact: Steve Carpowich
Phone: 858-678-7183
Email: carpowich.stephen@scrippshealth.org

Scripps Green Hospital Offers New Breast Imaging Tool

2009-05-15T14:00:06-07:00

When San Diego resident Joan B. was diagnosed with breast cancer, the news didn’t come as a surprise. In her mammoth family of 14, cancer had become common. Three brothers had prostate cancer. Joan, a then 48-year-old registered nurse, was the third of five sisters who eventually received a breast cancer diagnosis. She had become next in a line of siblings forced to fight the disease, and she did so with a practical approach.

“Maybe coming from a big family made me more resilient and adaptable. But I typically deal with things head on,” said the nurse of 20 years. “I had it. I knew I had to deal with it – and I did.”

It was 2002, and Joan was already dealing with cancer nearly every day in her job. She worked as a radiation oncology nurse at Scripps Green Hospital, and was familiar with the journey she was about to embark on, which included two lumpectomies, chemotherapy and radiation.

At the five-year mark, Joan was considered cancer-free. She underwent routine screenings to make sure the disease had not returned. Then, her annual mammogram in December of 2008 produced an inconclusive result – and a scare.

The news isn’t all that uncommon for women like Joan. She was prone to calcifications, which often appear as abnormalities on mammography. Plus, she had fibrocystic or lumpy breasts.

“Dense tissue can make mammograms difficult to interpret,” said Marie Tartar, M.D., director of Advanced Breast Imaging at Scripps Green Hospital. “This is a challenge we deal with frequently.”

The new tool

A new nuclear imaging tool at Scripps Green Hospital helped to alleviate Joan’s concern. She underwent breast-specific gamma imaging (BSGI), which uses a maneuverable camera to capture high-resolution functional images of the breasts.

“I found out my cancer had not returned, and the procedure was a piece of cake,” said Joan. “There was minimal compression of my breast and I received the results right there, so I didn’t have to wait and worry.”

Unlike mammography, BSGI is not affected by tissue density. It is a molecular imaging procedure that evaluates the metabolic activity of breast lesions through uptake of an intravenously administered radioactive tracer. Cancer cells absorb more of the tracing agent due to their higher metabolic activity and increased blood supply – so cancerous areas “light up” on BSGI.

“This modality is not a replacement for the annual mammogram,” said Dr. Tartar. “It is helping us overcome the limitations of conventional breast imaging, like mammography and ultrasound. And it is giving us another tool in the detection of breast cancer in some patients who need additional diagnostic testing.”

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is typically the test used to identify malignant breast lesions after a murky mammogram. Evidence now suggests that BSGI has comparable sensitivity, superior specificity – and is more cost-effective than MRI. According to Dr. Tartar, the modality can be helpful when screening women at high risk – like Joan.

“BSGI is useful in imaging hard-to-evaluate patients, like those with dense breasts, implants, or scar tissue. It also helps when there is a question of feeling an abnormality, when nothing is seen on mammography and/or ultrasound,” she said. “With a new or suspected diagnosis of breast cancer, BSGI can help assess the extent of disease, which helps in surgical decision-making.”

On the forefront of functional imaging

Scripps Green is the first and only health care facility in San Diego County with BSGI. But this isn’t the first time the hospital has been at the forefront of functional imaging for breast cancer. For two years, the breast imaging specialists at Green put a related technology to the test, participating in a multicenter prospective study looking at the staging of breast cancer using positron emission mammography (PEM). Like BSGI, the device helps to detect suspicious cells based on the way in which they function, offering the potential for disease detection before an anatomic change develops on a mammogram or ultrasound.

“Functional imaging helps us fill the diagnostic gap when mammography or breast ultrasound is inconclusive, said Dr. Tartar. “Having BSGI at Green, we can get to the truth with fewer steps and reduce the number of unnecessary biopsies. That improves patient care.”

Joan’s journey

Now 56, Joan has turned her personal and professional experience into an opportunity to help women who receive a breast cancer diagnosis – or feel frightened after an inconclusive mammogram. She is a breast care coordinator at Scripps Green Hospital, working side-by-side with patients to provide education and support. In her role, Joan helps women navigate the stressful road she’s traveled.

“I can help them realize there is life after a diagnosis. You can move on,” said Joan. “I can provide hope and help them find courage. It’s so rewarding.”

Scripps Clinic and Scripps Green Hospital Host 2005 Renaissance Ball

2008-02-15T21:47:54-08:00

The 2005 Renaissance Ball continues its tradition of elegance with a memorable evening planned for Saturday, April 2 at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine with the theme, Ahhh….Firenze! Honorary Chairs for this year’s gala are Carol and Martin Dickinson and Barbara and Terence Gooding, Ph.D., of Rancho Santa Fe and chairing the event are Karen Gabasch, Nan Pratt and Eunice Williams all of La Jolla.

Guests will be taken to the birthplace of the Renaissance and experience an evening that will delight the senses with art, history, culture, entertainment and surprises.The evening will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a cocktail reception amidst scenes of the Italian Renaissance, followed by an exquisite dinner and musical entertainment.The theme celebrates the revival of medicine, science, art and architecture.

Proceeds from the third annual ball will help purchase a 64-slice CT scanner for Scripps Green Hospital and Scripps Clinic. In diagnostic imaging, precision is everything, and as scanners grow more precise, it’s critically important that Scripps continues to upgrade equipment. This cutting-edge scanner can image the smallest anatomical structures. Physicians receive detailed images to diagnose cardiovascular disease, cancer, stroke and other life-threatening conditions. In addition, the Siemens CT scanner is faster and requires less radiation to achieve better results, improving patient comfort and safety.

Members of this year’s honorary committee are: Howard Birndorf, Suzan and William Black, Thomas E. K. Cerruti, Sima and Parviz Foroozan, Karen and Orrin Gabsch, Audrey S. Geisel, Kathy and Don Grimm, Stephanie and Doug Gwilliam, Natasha Josefowitz, Ph.D., and Herman Gadon, Ph.D., Burl and Bill Mackenzie, Edith and Leonard Polster, Nan and James Pratt, Sallie and Trumbull Richard, Lois Roon, Donald and Darlene Shiley, DeWitt Shuck, and Eunice and Gary Williams.

Event committee members are: Sima Foroozan, Stephanie Gwilliam, Angela Lee, Lindsey Park, and Suzanne Swanson.

To learn more about this event and how you can participate, contact swanson.suzanne@scrippshealth.org or visit www.scrippshealthfoundation.org.

Contact:
Don Stanziano
(858)678-7486
stanziano.don@scrippshealth.org