Automated Breast Ultrasound System (ABUS) at Riverside Healthcare
Dr. Ravi Ramakrishna discusses ABUS.
Featured Speaker:
Ravi Ramakrishna, DO
Ravi Ramakrishna, DO is a board-certified radiologist who specializes in diagnostic and breast radiology. He completed his residency in radiology at University of Illinois College of Medicine and fellowship in breast imaging at Susan G. Komen Breast Center-OSF St. Francis Medical Center. Transcription:
Automated Breast Ultrasound System (ABUS) at Riverside Healthcare
Introduction: Riverside Healthcare puts the health and wellness information you need, Well Within Reach.
Alyssa Diaz: Hello listeners. And thanks for tuning into the Well Within Reach podcast brought to you by Riverside Healthcare. I'm your host Alyssa Diaz and our topic today is automated breast ultrasound system called ABUS at Riverside Healthcare. We're here with an expert in the field, Dr. Ravi Ramakrishna from the Riverside Breast Center. Dr. Ramakrishna. Thank you for joining the podcast today.
Dr. Ramakrishna: Thank you for having me.
Host: Let's do a quick introduction of you as a physician and talk about your specialized training and background.
Dr. Ramakrishna: Actually, originally from Kankakee, I grew up here and I did my medical training in Iowa, and I came back to Illinois to do my residency in diagnostic radiology, and then a subspecialty fellowship training in breast imaging at the University of Illinois in Peoria.
Host: All right. So very specialized training for the topic of the day, which is something we call ABUS. Again, it's automated breast ultrasound system, and that's a new screening that's available for women with dense breasts specifically at Riverside. And so one in eight women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime, but with increased awareness, early detection, and innovative new treatments, survival rates continue to rise. And that goes for women with dense breast tissue as well.
Dr. Ramakrishna: That's correct. It's important to remember that one in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime and mammography or screening mammograms have been the best way to detect early abnormalities in the breast and reduce the risk of dying from breast cancer. But mammography can have some limitations and as our technology has gotten better, ABUS or screening breast ultrasound is the next step in detection.
Host: And so, let's back things up just a little bit and talk about recommendations for screening mammograms to start and how that might lead to the need for an ultrasound.
Dr. Ramakrishna: That's a very important topic, whether there's a lot of recommendations out there from different societies, the societies that are dedicated primarily to screening for breast cancer and order detection recommend annual screening mammography beginning at age 40. And while all the societies have different recommendations, they do all agree that the most lives are saved when we begin screening mammograms at age 40 and continue annually.
Host: And an additional mammogram is needed. But some women with dense breast tissue may require an additional screening. And that's where ABUS comes in.
Dr. Ramakrishna: That's correct. So where ABUS or screening breast ultrasound comes in is particularly related to breast density. Now, when we look at mammograms, we get a lot of information. One of those pieces of information that we get is what a woman's breast density is. So let's talk about density for a moment. The breast is composed of two different types of tissue, primarily a fatty or less dense tissue and fibrous or dense breast tissues. Now those fibrous or dense breast tissues will show up bright or white on a mammogram. And those are the, that sometimes can be difficult to see through if there's more dense tissue or more overlapping tissue in an area. The other important thing to remember is that when we talk about risk of breast cancer, women who have dense or fibrous breasts have an increased risk of breast cancer up to four to six times the average risk for breast cancer. So when we look at that population, women who have dense breasts, we need some additional tools to screen those patients and detect their cancers earlier because they do have an increased risk. And that's where screening breast ultrasound and ABUS comes in.
Host: Okay. And how common is it for a woman to have dense breast tissue in the first place?
Dr. Ramakrishna: It is actually very common, 40 to 50% of women have dense or fibrous breasts.
Host: Okay. And if you have it based on the findings of your initial mammogram, and that's something that your doctor discusses with you upon receiving results is that how it works?
Dr. Ramakrishna: That's correct. Really the best way for us to tell your density is through a mammogram. So getting that first mammogram or having a recent mammogram will give you and your doctor information about what your density is. Some women will say that their breast feel dense or lumpy sometimes, but that doesn't always correlate with what your density is on the mammogram pictures.
Host: Okay. In our automated breast ultrasound is something that gives us all of the tools to understand that. So how does that technology work?
Dr. Ramakrishna: So, it's really a new and exciting technology that Riverside is offering. And what it is, is it's a type of test where we will get information about the breast tissue using a piece of ultrasound equipment. So unlike a mammogram where you're standing and the breast is in compression with a screening, a breast ultrasound or a bus you're actually laying down. And the ultrasound probe or transducer is placed on top of the breast. A specialized ultrasound lotion is applied to the skin surface to allow it to image the breast. And the technologist will position the ultrasound equipment and in such a way that will automatically scan through the breast tissue in a couple of different views. And then those views are put together for the radiologist to scan through the breast tissue and see those abnormalities.
Host: And so, it's really increasing the visibility of problematic areas?
Dr. Ramakrishna: Exactly. In particularly in those women, we talked about with dense breast tissue where mammography can sometimes have a difficult time seeing through those tissues or pulling out those abnormalities ultrasound doesn't have those limitations. So in that group of women who have dense or fibrous breast tissue, a screening breast ultrasound is an important tool.
Host: Absolutely. And Dr. Ramakrishna, what is something important to tell patients who have dense breast tissue?
Dr. Ramakrishna: It's important for patients to know number one, what their breast density is, and they can get that information from their mammogram or their doctor. The second is that with breast density, they have an increased risk of developing breast cancer. And they should know what tools and resources are available them. As always, mammogram is still the gold standard for women, regardless of your breast density, but in women who do have dense breasts, the addition of the, ABUS or automated screening breast ultrasound is an important tool to detect cancers that may not be able to be seen with regular mammogram.
Host: And while all of these technologies definitely provide peace of mind. How does having a specialized screening like this really impact our patients’ experience?
Dr. Ramakrishna: This is just one more tool that we have to assure patients that they have access to the latest and best technology for screening for breast cancer. And we know, and we constantly tell patients that early detection saves lives. And this is one more tool that patients, physicians, and radiologists will have to detect those cancers early and continue to help decrease the number of women who die from breast cancer every year.
Host: Dr. Ramakrishna, thanks for joining us on the podcast and how might individuals seek more information on this topic or others related to breast health?
Dr. Ramakrishna: They can talk to their doctor, their breast imaging provider, or they can contact the Riverside Breast Center. We have specialized staff who can answer their questions.
Host: Thank you for joining us on the Well Within Reach podcast. For information on this topic and others visit Riversidehealthcare.org.
Automated Breast Ultrasound System (ABUS) at Riverside Healthcare
Introduction: Riverside Healthcare puts the health and wellness information you need, Well Within Reach.
Alyssa Diaz: Hello listeners. And thanks for tuning into the Well Within Reach podcast brought to you by Riverside Healthcare. I'm your host Alyssa Diaz and our topic today is automated breast ultrasound system called ABUS at Riverside Healthcare. We're here with an expert in the field, Dr. Ravi Ramakrishna from the Riverside Breast Center. Dr. Ramakrishna. Thank you for joining the podcast today.
Dr. Ramakrishna: Thank you for having me.
Host: Let's do a quick introduction of you as a physician and talk about your specialized training and background.
Dr. Ramakrishna: Actually, originally from Kankakee, I grew up here and I did my medical training in Iowa, and I came back to Illinois to do my residency in diagnostic radiology, and then a subspecialty fellowship training in breast imaging at the University of Illinois in Peoria.
Host: All right. So very specialized training for the topic of the day, which is something we call ABUS. Again, it's automated breast ultrasound system, and that's a new screening that's available for women with dense breasts specifically at Riverside. And so one in eight women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime, but with increased awareness, early detection, and innovative new treatments, survival rates continue to rise. And that goes for women with dense breast tissue as well.
Dr. Ramakrishna: That's correct. It's important to remember that one in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime and mammography or screening mammograms have been the best way to detect early abnormalities in the breast and reduce the risk of dying from breast cancer. But mammography can have some limitations and as our technology has gotten better, ABUS or screening breast ultrasound is the next step in detection.
Host: And so, let's back things up just a little bit and talk about recommendations for screening mammograms to start and how that might lead to the need for an ultrasound.
Dr. Ramakrishna: That's a very important topic, whether there's a lot of recommendations out there from different societies, the societies that are dedicated primarily to screening for breast cancer and order detection recommend annual screening mammography beginning at age 40. And while all the societies have different recommendations, they do all agree that the most lives are saved when we begin screening mammograms at age 40 and continue annually.
Host: And an additional mammogram is needed. But some women with dense breast tissue may require an additional screening. And that's where ABUS comes in.
Dr. Ramakrishna: That's correct. So where ABUS or screening breast ultrasound comes in is particularly related to breast density. Now, when we look at mammograms, we get a lot of information. One of those pieces of information that we get is what a woman's breast density is. So let's talk about density for a moment. The breast is composed of two different types of tissue, primarily a fatty or less dense tissue and fibrous or dense breast tissues. Now those fibrous or dense breast tissues will show up bright or white on a mammogram. And those are the, that sometimes can be difficult to see through if there's more dense tissue or more overlapping tissue in an area. The other important thing to remember is that when we talk about risk of breast cancer, women who have dense or fibrous breasts have an increased risk of breast cancer up to four to six times the average risk for breast cancer. So when we look at that population, women who have dense breasts, we need some additional tools to screen those patients and detect their cancers earlier because they do have an increased risk. And that's where screening breast ultrasound and ABUS comes in.
Host: Okay. And how common is it for a woman to have dense breast tissue in the first place?
Dr. Ramakrishna: It is actually very common, 40 to 50% of women have dense or fibrous breasts.
Host: Okay. And if you have it based on the findings of your initial mammogram, and that's something that your doctor discusses with you upon receiving results is that how it works?
Dr. Ramakrishna: That's correct. Really the best way for us to tell your density is through a mammogram. So getting that first mammogram or having a recent mammogram will give you and your doctor information about what your density is. Some women will say that their breast feel dense or lumpy sometimes, but that doesn't always correlate with what your density is on the mammogram pictures.
Host: Okay. In our automated breast ultrasound is something that gives us all of the tools to understand that. So how does that technology work?
Dr. Ramakrishna: So, it's really a new and exciting technology that Riverside is offering. And what it is, is it's a type of test where we will get information about the breast tissue using a piece of ultrasound equipment. So unlike a mammogram where you're standing and the breast is in compression with a screening, a breast ultrasound or a bus you're actually laying down. And the ultrasound probe or transducer is placed on top of the breast. A specialized ultrasound lotion is applied to the skin surface to allow it to image the breast. And the technologist will position the ultrasound equipment and in such a way that will automatically scan through the breast tissue in a couple of different views. And then those views are put together for the radiologist to scan through the breast tissue and see those abnormalities.
Host: And so, it's really increasing the visibility of problematic areas?
Dr. Ramakrishna: Exactly. In particularly in those women, we talked about with dense breast tissue where mammography can sometimes have a difficult time seeing through those tissues or pulling out those abnormalities ultrasound doesn't have those limitations. So in that group of women who have dense or fibrous breast tissue, a screening breast ultrasound is an important tool.
Host: Absolutely. And Dr. Ramakrishna, what is something important to tell patients who have dense breast tissue?
Dr. Ramakrishna: It's important for patients to know number one, what their breast density is, and they can get that information from their mammogram or their doctor. The second is that with breast density, they have an increased risk of developing breast cancer. And they should know what tools and resources are available them. As always, mammogram is still the gold standard for women, regardless of your breast density, but in women who do have dense breasts, the addition of the, ABUS or automated screening breast ultrasound is an important tool to detect cancers that may not be able to be seen with regular mammogram.
Host: And while all of these technologies definitely provide peace of mind. How does having a specialized screening like this really impact our patients’ experience?
Dr. Ramakrishna: This is just one more tool that we have to assure patients that they have access to the latest and best technology for screening for breast cancer. And we know, and we constantly tell patients that early detection saves lives. And this is one more tool that patients, physicians, and radiologists will have to detect those cancers early and continue to help decrease the number of women who die from breast cancer every year.
Host: Dr. Ramakrishna, thanks for joining us on the podcast and how might individuals seek more information on this topic or others related to breast health?
Dr. Ramakrishna: They can talk to their doctor, their breast imaging provider, or they can contact the Riverside Breast Center. We have specialized staff who can answer their questions.
Host: Thank you for joining us on the Well Within Reach podcast. For information on this topic and others visit Riversidehealthcare.org.