Contents:

1. Executive Summary - 1. Introduction & Noteworthy Emerging Technologies -- 1. Breast Cancer -- 2. Mammography -- 3. Noteworthy Emerging Technologies - 2. Scope & Methodology -- 1. Scope -- 2. Methodology 2. Technology & Applications Viewpoint - 1. Technology Primer -- 1. Analog Mammography -- 2. Digital Mammography -- 3. Tomosynthesis - 2. Influential Factors -- 1. Trends -- 2. Quality Issues - 3. Government Initiatives -- 1. Chinese Anticancer Association and American Cancer Society -- 2. Mammography Facilities--Scorecard -- 3. Digital Mammography Screening Trial 3. Technology Adoption Factor Analysis - 1. Drivers and Challenges -- 1. Drivers -- 2. Challenges - 2. Regulations & Adoption of Digital Technology -- 1. Limitations to the Technology of Mammography -- 2. Adoption of Digital Technology 4. Assessment of Innovations & Opportunities - North America - 1. Companies -- 1. New CAD System with Enhancements Providing Increased Sensitivity and Accuracy--USA -- 2. Enhanced Features for Early Detection through CAD-Based Mammography System--USA -- 3. New Version of CAD for Digital and Analog Mammography Applications--USA -- 4. Novel Computed Tomography Laser Mammography for Breast Cancer Detection with Higher Patient Compliance--USA -- 5. Digital Tomosynthesis for the Diagnosis of Breast Cancer--USA -- 6. Algorithm-Based Tomosynthesis for Efficient and Comfortable Breast Cancer Screening--USA -- 7. Computed Radiography Manufacturer Offers Powerful New Upgrade for Customers’ Existing Installations--USA -- 8. Digital Mammography Integrated with IT Solutions for Complete Workflow Solutions and Efficient Examination--USA -- 9. Digital Mammography Workstation Software with Multimodality and Advanced Features--USA -- 10. Breast Imaging System for the Detection of Tumor Angiogenesis and Software for Efficient Diagnostic Interpretation--USA -- 11. Software for Digitizing Films and Simultaneous Comparison of Film and Digital Images--USA -- 12. Stereoscopic Digital Mammography System for More Accurate Detection of Cancer--USA -- 13. Full-Field Digital Mammography System with Innovative Features--USA -- 14. RIS/PACS Platform for Mammography Solutions--USA -- 15. Risk-Free Radiolucent Cushion Providing High-Level Patient Compliance During Mammography--USA -- 16. Use of Digital Radiography to Develop Digital Mammography Systems--USA -- 17. Total Mammography Solutions Through Independent Development on Computer-Aided Detection; Digital Breast Tomosynthesis; Contrast-Enhanced Digital Mammography and Mammography/Ultrasound Fusion--USA -- 18. CR Mammography Systems to Deliver Economical and Quality Imaging Results--USA -- 19. Array of Technologies for Breast Imaging--USA - 2. Universities - Links -- 1. Batch Reading for Better Quality and Cancer Detection--United States -- 2. Breast Tomosynthesis--An Alternative to Mammography--United States 5. Assessment of Innovations & Opportunities - Europe & Asia Pacific - 1. Companies -- 1. Display System with Wide Array of Valuable Features for Digital Mammography--Belgium -- 2. Full-Field Digital Mammography with Innovative Features--Finland -- 3. A New Ergonomically Designed Digital Mammography System--Sweden - 2. Universities. -- 1. A Computer-Aided Detection System to Plan Breast Biopsy--Poland -- 2. Optimization of Photon Threshold Optimization in Mammography--Cape Town 6. Key Patents; Contacts & Glossary - 1. Patents -- 1. Patents I -- 2. Patents II - 2. Key Contacts & Glossary -- 1. Key Contacts -- 2. Glossary 7. Frost & Sullivan 2006 Science & Technology Awards - 1. Technology Innovation Award -- 1. Award Description -- 2. Award Recipient - 2. Excellence in Technology Award -- 1. Award Description -- 2. Award Recipient - 3. Product Innovation Award -- 1. Award Description -- 2. Award Recipient 8. Decision Support Database - 1. Database Tables -- 1. World Breast Cancer Incidence (1999-2006) -- 2. Breast Cancer Mortality (1999-2006) -- 3. Female Population (1999-2006) -- 4. Female Population--65 years and above (1999-2006) -- 5. Government Healthcare Expenditure (1999-2006)

Summary:

Ongoing Transition from Film-based to Digital Mammography With the World Health Organization forecasting that more than 1.2 million people are likely to be diagnosed with cancer worldwide this year, concerned health institutions and authorities are urgently implementing and promoting screening programs to ensure early detection. Such programs are proving a major driver for the uptake of mammography units that can reveal changes in the breast well before the patient or physician can feel them. Also, the transition from film-based to digital mammography is a major step in this field and allows for more screenings as well as rectification of under- or over-exposure post exam, thereby eliminating the need for repeat mammograms. Despite this, the technology still has considerable potential for further improvements, particularly in relation to image quality. Although the need to update old and outdated equipment is a major factor in the growth of digital mammography, the high cost of equipment remains a significant challenge for increased uptake. High detector prices along with the limited anticipated lifespan of the technology are discouraging radiologist from adopting digital mammography, thereby necessitating price reductions to encourage adoption. "Also, with the average size of a digital breast study image being about 200 MB, there is a need to increase bandwidth and use appropriate picture archive communication system (PACS) or PACS-type workstations to store the large number of these big digital files," notes the analyst of this research service. "Increased bandwidth is likely to further add to the costs of the already pricey digital mammography while also necessitating reasonably good networking infrastructure and high levels of computing power." Tomosynthesis – An Emerging Breast Screening Technique With respect to the noteworthy trends in the field of mammography, tomosynthesis is an emerging application with the potential to become a widely adopted breast cancer screening technique in the next 5 to 10 years. As a volumetric 3D imaging application, tomosynthesis has the potential to overcome some of the interpretive issues encountered by 2D projection mammography such as missed cancers as well as unnecessary screening recalls and biopsies. Tomosynthesis provides a 3D X-ray image and the total dose of radiation emitted during this procedure is less than that produced by a standard two-view mammogram. The sharp images enhance the visibility of lesions and help remove pseudolesions often present due to overlapping of adjacent tissues. As a result, almost 85 percent of callbacks can be eliminated, which translates to lower costs, less radiation exposure, as well as reduced mental and physical trauma for patients. Among the other emerging technologies, Eastman Kodak Company's computer-aided detection (CAD) system for mammography applications scans traditional analog silver-halide mammograms and applies CAD software algorithms to the images. The upgraded version of the technology, version 3.1, is designed to both increase sensitivity toward the detection of microcalcification clusters and reduce the occurrence of false positives. "Also, Imaging Diagnostic Systems Inc. offers CT Laser Mammography (CTLM) – a device that uses passive lasers or light rather than potentially harmful x-rays or ionizing radiation," says the analyst. "It has been developed as an adjunct to mammography in cases of indeterminate mammographic findings, particularly in dense breasts."