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Toms River, N.J -- This year, approximately 200,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Studies show that nearly one quarter of women with breast cancer could have been diagnosed earlier, if they had access to the latest technology, such as the ImageChecker® Computer Aided Detection (CAD) system, now available at Community Medical Center.
The ImageChecker, the first of its kind in Ocean County, was recently installed in the Radiology Department at Community Medical Center. It is the first computer aided detection system for use in breast cancer screening approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA).
“Early diagnosis is key to surviving breast cancer,” said Murray Rothberg, M.D., Medical Director of Radiology Services at the hospital. “Mammography screenings with the additional benefit of the new ImageChecker CAD system can potentially prevent breast cancer deaths in women right here in our own community.”
Studies show use of the ImageChecker can result in earlier detection of up to 23.4 percent of cancers currently detected with screening mammography in those women who had a prior screening mammogram nine to 24 months earlier.
“Community Medical Center is dedicated to providing the best treatments in the fight against breast cancer,” said Nancy L. Wollen, Executive Director of Community Medical Center. “This new CAD system will allow us to provide our patients all the benefits of early detection and improve overall management and treatment of breast cancer.”
The ImageChecker CAD system is currently used in conjunction with film based mammography. After digitizing a film mammogram, the system’s specialized processing software analyzes the image and draws the radiologist’s attention to suspicious features that may be indicative of cancer. The radiologist typically reviews the entire mammogram first and then activates the ImageChecker monitor to see if any areas have been highlighted for additional review. If an image is marked, the radiologist goes back to the original mammogram to review this area in more detail.
Community Medical Center acquired this important piece of equipment thanks to a generous gift from the hospital’s Auxiliary. Since 1954, the CMC Auxiliary Association has played a key role in the growth of the hospital through the funding of major renovations and building additions, MICU vehicles and equipment purchases.
Both Wollen and Dr. Rothberg expressed their gratitude to the Auxiliary for supporting such a valuable, important piece of technology.
“Bringing our patients access to the most advanced technology is always a top priority at Community Medical Center,” Wollen said. “The addition of this new equipment will allow us to further enhance the benefits of mammography screenings for our patients and increase the early detection of breast cancer. For that we are sincerely grateful to the Auxiliary members for helping us to obtain the ImageChecker system.”
Community Medical Center (CMC) is an affiliate of the Saint Barnabas Health Care System, the largest integrated health care delivery system in New Jersey, with nine acute care hospitals, nine nursing homes, five ambulatory care facilities, three geriatric centers, three assisted living residences, a freestanding 100-bed inpatient psychiatric facility and a statewide behavioral health network. Located in Toms River, Community is a fully accredited, acute-care 596-bed facility offering the most advanced, ultra-modern diagnostic and treatment services, including, emergency and urgent care, laser and arthroscopic surgery, maternity and a Level II special care nursery and pediatrics unit. CMC offers the Community Regional Cancer Center, affiliated with the renowned Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia; state-of-the-art Radiation Oncology; a Renal Dialysis Center; a Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, as well as general medical and health care services to the residents of Ocean County; and the Center for Kids and Family with sites located in Toms River and Lacey.
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