Sectra introduces osteoporosis testing on its MicroDose mammography system

After several years of clinical evaluation in Europe, the Swedish IT and medical technology company Sectra is now introducing its unique combination of a low-dose digital mammography system and its osteoporosis testing technology as a generally available product at the ongoing RSNA 2004, the scientific assembly and meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.

Combining these products enables the unique capability of performing osteoporosis testing by simply acquiring an x-ray of a woman’s hand in connection with a mammography examination. The highly precise Sectra Digital X-ray Radiogrammetry (DXR) technology was approved by the FDA in 2000 for deriving Bone Mineral Density (BMD) from hand radiographs acquired with mammography x-ray equipment. Sectra’s DXR technology has since been commercially available as an option for adding BMD testing to existing mammography equipment used for breast cancer screening. Now it is also available as an integrated product with the digital Sectra MicroDose Mammography system. “Combining the patented DXR technology and our MicroDose Mammography, with its very high throughput capabilities and its low radiation, utilizes the strong synergy between the two products, significantly benefiting our customers", says Torbjörn Kronander, President of Sectra Imtec AB. “This product combination offers the best possible option for establishing an efficient osteoporosis testing program on mammography equipment while keeping the radiation exposure on a screened population to a minimum, Torbjörn Kronander adds.” As life spans continue to increase, the incidences of diseases associated with advancing age also increase. Examples of such diseases include osteoporosis, considered to be the most expensive disease in the world, and breast cancer. These diseases mainly affect middle-aged and older women, and early diagnosis is critical in successful treatment. Sectra’s osteoporosis-testing software, combined with Sectra MicroDose Mammography, is dedicated to women’s health, enabling highly effective solutions for hospitals and breast clinics all over the world.