Automated Whole Breast Ultrasound Breast Cancer Screening Services in Buffalo, NY
SonoCiné Automated Whole Breast
Ultrasound Breast Cancer Screening
Receive $50 Off SonoCiné Screenings in May
Women under the age of 50 have a higher incidence of dense breast tissue and of having more aggresive forms of breast cancer. This unfortunate combination is not well served by the conventional standard of care where mammograms can miss as much as 50% of small cancers hidden in dense breast tissue and MRIs require toxic contrast material to enable them to discern any presence of abnormality.
Finding and treating breast cancer in its early stages increases the chance of a full recovery. The team at OWM Integrative Wellness in Buffalo, New York, offers the latest technology in ultrasound breast screening using SonoCiné automated whole-breast ultrasound (AWBUS). This advanced breast screening tool can find tumors as small as 3 mm that the traditional mammogram could miss.
This sophisticated device uses a robotic arm that literally guides the hand of the ultrasonographer, ensuring that no areas are missed, while taking pictures every 400 microns and saving the entire study as a video. The result is that there is twice as much information given to the reading radiologist with each exam, as compared to a traditional handheld ultrasound.
SonoCiné AWBUS is FDA approved as a secondary screening device to a mammogram for dense breast tissue and breasts with implants due to mammogram’s poor ability to find masses in these breast types.
To schedule your breast screening at OWM’s concierge medicine practice, request an appointment online or call the office for help now.
The Experience
What is SonoCiné automated whole breast ultrasound (AWBUS)?
The SonoCiné AWBUS radiation-free breast screening exam is a robot-assisted ultrasound breast examination that eliminates human error. It allows for the capture of hundreds of images in under 15 minutes and is performed in a spa-like environment by OWM’s caring and experienced staff. After changing into an exam camisole, you lie back on the ultrasound table. Your provider places the padded ultrasound transducer on your breast, delivering painless sound waves to create images through your skin. Experience an accurate breast cancer detection method with no squishing, no pain, no radiation, no IV, and no contrast dye.
Benefits:
SonoCiné AWBUS robotically controlled arm provides multiple benefits as compared to mammography and MRI with contrast:
- It is able to cover the entire breast region from hard to image arm pit and supraclavicular regions to the underside of the breast and breastplate area
- The precise positioning of the ultrasound probe by the robotic arm prevents missed areas of the breast
- It can pick up masses in dense breast tissue as small as three millimeters.
- There is minimal compression and no radiation
- The entire examination takes less than 20 minutes.
What to know before you go:
What is breast density?
Breast Density is a measure used to describe the proportion of different tissues that make up a woman’s breasts. Breast density is not a measure of how the breasts look or feel, but rather how the breasts appear on a mammogram. Breast density is typically revealed through a mammogram. Cancers in a mammogram of a fatty breast appear white on dark fatty-breast tissue. In a mammogram of dense breasts, both cancer and dense breast tissue appear white, making the cancer difficult to identify. The SonoCiné technology solves this problem.
How is SonoCiné AWBUS different from conventional breast ultrasound?
Unlike a hand-held ultrasound examination that is done “freehand” by an ultrasound technician, SonoCiné robotics automates the scan acquisition process by compensating for sonographer probe manipulation, thus reducing human error. SonoCiné captures a slice every 800µ(microns) or .03 inches and thereby provides enough images to identify masses as small as 3mm in diameter. Fluid video playback and visual navigation allow doctors a more comprehensive view of a possible finding. 3-D reconstruction allows the mass to be accurately located in the breast and for the elimination of false positive artifacts.
SonoCiné And Cancer Care
SonoCiné ultrasound technology is an advanced surveillance tool that is used during OWM Integrative Cancer Therapy to establish a precise location and size of suspicious lesions for future screenings.
SonoCiné technology helps women avoid unnecessary biopsies, MRIs, and intravenous (IV) contrast agents, not to mention the accompanying anxiety. The 3D AWBUS imaging minimizes false positives and negatives, saving lives. A specially trained, board-certified radiologist evaluates your ultrasound video, and the reports are given to you and your provider at OWM Integrative Wellness.
Safety
SonoCine’s technology allows for a fast and precise examination without radiation or compression of the breast.
Call OWM Integrative Wellness today or schedule your consultation online to learn more about SonoCiné’s AWBUS breast screening technology.
SonoCiné AWBUS was created by Dr. Kevin Kelly, a board-certified diagnostic radiologist, and was approved by the FDA in Oct. 2008 as an adjunct to mammography, but not a replacement for screening mammography, to better identify breast cancer early in women with dense breast tissue and those with breast implants. SonoCiné AWBUS exam’s early detection capability can help all women get peace of mind.
New clients receive information on lifestyle-based breast cancer prevention strategies and a discounted rate for a comprehensive initial integrative medical wellness consult with OWM medical care providers.
SonoCiné Frequently Asked Questions & Answers
Who should consider getting this screening?
- Women with dense breast tissue
- Women who want their entire breast scanned
- Women with breast implants
- Pregnant or nursing women
- Younger women who want a detailed baseline before age 40
- Men who have concerns about breast cancer
Does this screening have radiation?
No, this screening does not have radiation. It utilizes sound waves instead of x-ray technology. It has zero negative impact to the body.
Does this screening hurt?
No. This screening is gentle and requires no compression.
Could men get this screening?
Yes, a man who is concerned about breast cancer or has a genetic or family history that requires screening can receive this imaging. It is both safe and comfortable for men.
Is this screening safe for pregnant or nursing women?
Yes, this screening is safe for pregnant and nursing women. Ultrasound utilizes sound waves and is radiation free — the same technology used for prenatal imaging.
What is the process? What happens if you find something during the screening?
The Automated Whole Breast Ultrasound will scan your whole breast including your upper chest wall, under your arms and lymph nodes. Our radiologist will read the scans. If there is anything seen on our scan that is concerning, we will refer you for additional testing.
How much does it cost?
The cost of a bilateral breast screening is $450. We accept cash, credit card, and either HSA or FSA cards as payment.
Can SonoCiné replace my mammogram?
SonoCiné screening is FDA approved as an adjunct to mammography. It is meant to be supplemental imaging to your yearly mammogram. However, we do not require a mammogram to receive an ultrasound screening.
How is this different from a mammogram?
Ultrasound utilizes sound waves to create the images and mammograms are done by x-ray technology. This safe screening does not use compression or radiation. Unlike a mammogram, it also scans the entire breast tissue; the axilla (under the arm & lymph nodes), sternum and clavicular areas.
How is it different from a traditional handheld ultrasound?
Because of its highly automated robotic arm, unlike a handheld ultrasound, human error and potential inconsistency in scanning are reduced. It captures many more images than a tech could ever capture with a handheld ultrasound alone.
What are the risk factors of having dense breast tissue?
Women who have dense breast tissue have a higher risk of breast cancer compared to women with less dense breast tissue. It also makes it more difficult for a radiologist to see cancer on a mammogram.
How many women have dense breast tissue?
About 50% of all women have dense breast tissue and is more common in younger women.
Why does a mammogram miss some cancers in women with dense breast tissue?
Both dense breast tissue and cancer appear white on a mammogram, creating a dangerous camouflage called “masking effect” making it difficult for radiologists to find breast cancer as early as possible
What is SonoCiné automated whole breast ultrasound?
Automated whole breast ultrasound is a FDA approved adjunct breast cancer screening solution. This technology uses a robotic process that captures thousands of high-resolution images in rows that are then stitched together into a movie by software that the radiologist then reads. This powerful process allows small invasive cancers to be caught early.
Do I need a doctor’s referral?
We do not require a doctor’s referral. You can self-refer.
At what age should I start my screening?
We suggest starting your baseline screenings in your early 30’s. Especially those women with dense breast tissue or a family history of breast cancer.
Does insurance cover this screening?
Currently, it is not mandated by insurance to be covered. We do provide a Super Bill that you can submit to your insurance provider for reimbursement. Most women have been able to get partial or full reimbursement.
Who reads my scan?
A licensed and highly trained breast radiologist will read your images and write the report.
Is SonoCiné FDA Approved?
In 2008, SonoCiné AWBUS received FDA clearance as an adjunct to mammography — and was further validated by two peer-reviewed studies published in the journal, European Radiology in 2009 and 2010. The earlier of the two studies was recognized as the second-most cited paper that year, and has since been cited over 400 times. This paper concluded that SonoCiné AWBUS finds twice as many cancers as mammography alone, and three times as many small, invasive cancers (10mm or less).
What Is The Difference Between SonoCiné And Mammography?
Mammography is an x-ray technology, has painful compression, and misses 50% of the small, easily treatable cancers in women with dense breast tissue or implants.
SonoCiné uses no x-rays, has no painful compression, and reliably finds 4-10mm breast cancers in all breast tissue types and women with implants.
What Is The Difference Between Handheld Ultrasound & SonoCiné?
Handheld Ultrasound is a conventional handheld ultrasound, which is limited by the variability of the technician doing the screening, can miss many of the small, easily treatable 4-10mm cancers in women with dense breast tissue or implants. Handheld ultrasound does not capture the entire breast and takes far fewer images than SonoCiné.
SonoCiné is automated and screens 100% of the breast tissue including the axilla. Its automated imaging captures 3,000-5,000 images in a consistent and uniform system.
What Is The Difference Between MRI & SonoCiné?
MRI requires a heavy metal injection, and its safety is now being questioned by the FDA. MRI is an expensive, lengthy procedure, yielding many false positives.
SonoCiné is an inexpensive short procedure, and reliably finds 4-10mm breast cancers. SonoCiné creates no negative impact on the body
What Is The Difference Between MBI & SonoCiné?
Magnetic Breast Imaging (MBI) requires a whole-body radioactive isotope injection, and is expensive.
SonoCiné requires no toxic injections.
What Is The Difference Between Tomosynthesis & SonoCiné?
Tomosynthesis (also called 3D mammography) uses x-rays, requires compression, and finds far fewer 4-10mm breast cancers. When combined with mammography, the radiation dose is greater than a mammogram alone.
SonoCiné reliably finds 4-10mm breast cancers, doesn’t use x-rays–and uncomfortable compression.
What Is The Difference Between ABUS & SonoCiné?
ABUS (GE & Siemens) fails to adequately screen the entire breast, missing the axilla. It is frequently painful and finds far fewer 4-7mm breast cancers. ABUS is unable to find cancer in women with implants and is not as effective for women with small breasts.
SonoCiné screens 100% of breast tissue, including the axilla and has no painful compression. Most importantly, it reliably finds 4-10mm breast cancers in women with all breast sizes and densities, as well as breasts with implants.
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