Use of Bella Blankets has been shown to improve mammography results

Oncology Imaging Systems (OIS) is a distributor of Beekley Medical’s Bella Blankets, which are thin protective coverlets shown in a comparison study to provide benefits during breast imaging.

Proper breast positioning during mammography is essential for achieving high quality diagnostic images and maximising breast cancer detection, as the more tissue technologists capture, the lower the likelihood that malignancies will go undetected. Challenges that can impede optimal positioning include patient discomfort with compression and the physical difficulty of manoeuvring the breast into position.

Designed as an interface between the breast and the image receptor, protective coverlets offer an actionable solution for consistent tissue acquisition. Featuring a textured, non-slip surface, they can aid technologists in achieving more stable, effective breast positioning, says OIS. Breast centres using these coverlets have observed a consistent improvement in the capture of posterior breast tissue during mammography, the company reports. To validate these observations, a study analysed mammograms from the year and compared them with those from the previous year in the same patients, with the only variable being the introduction of the Bella Blanket thin protective coverlet during imaging.

Results showed that 77 per cent of study participants experienced increased tissue acquisition with Bella Blankets compared to the prior year’s examination with no coverlet, with an 0.41cm average increase in posterior nipple line in both MLO and CC views.

Additionally, 48 per cent of participants experienced improved visualisation of the pectoralis muscle, visualisation of retroglandular tissue improved from 86 per cent to 96 per cent and visualisation of inframammary fold as ‘open’ improved from 67 per cent to 87 per cent.

Visit Oncology Imaging Systems at Symposium Mammographicum on stand 1.

This news story has been sponsored by the companies concerned and does not represent the views or opinions of RAD Magazine.  Visit our dedicated Symposium Mammographicum conference page to find out more.