Henry Ford First in Michigan to Offer Advanced Breast Cancer Screening Technology to Increase Early Detection in Women with Dense Breasts

WEST BLOOMFIELD, MICH – The Henry Ford Cancer Institute is the first in Michigan to offer a new and advanced molecular breast imaging system to screen women with dense breast tissue, who are at an increased risk for breast cancer.

Gamma Medica’s LumaGEM® Molecular Breast Imaging system has been shown to significantly increase early detection of breast cancer in these patients by serving as a complementary screening tool to standard mammography or tomosynthesis (3D mammography).

The LumaGEM MBI is now available at Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital.

“The Henry Ford Cancer Institute offers some of the most advanced screening options available to our patients, and this technology brings added imaging capability for women with dense breast tissue,” says Patricia Miller, M.D., director of Breast Imaging at Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital. 

Henry Ford will use LumaGEM MBI as a secondary screening tool following digital mammography. When utilized in this fashion, research has shown that the LumaGEM MBI system can increase cancer detection rates by almost 400 percent in early-stage invasive cancers.

Up to 50 percent of U.S. women have dense breast tissue. And, women with dense breast tissue are at a higher risk for developing breast cancer.

Because women with dense breasts have less fatty tissue and more glandular tissue it can make abnormalities harder to see on a mammogram.

LumaGEM MBI can reveal spots that a standard mammogram can’t by using a radiopharmaceutical and special camera to find breast cancer that can be invisible on a mammogram.

The radiopharmaceutical “lights up” metabolic activity in the breast associated with tumor growth.

The LumaGEM Molecular Breast Imaging system’s design provides a full range of motion for easy patient positioning and the use of light breast compression for greater patient comfort during the exam.

“We’re thrilled to have worked with the Henry Ford Cancer Institute to help make it possible for more women, regardless of their breast density, to get accurate breast cancer screenings,” said Philip Croxford, president and CEO of Gamma Medica. “This new installation of the LumaGEM MBI system gives women in Michigan and surrounding areas access to a clinically superior diagnostic and secondary breast screening method.”

Henry Ford is working to expand health insurance coverage for MBI. Currently, when an appointment for MBI is made, Henry Ford will contact the patient’s health insurance provider to determine coverage in advance of their appointment. For those without insurance coverage for MBI, a special self-pay pricing of $515 is available.

To schedule a breast cancer screening appointment, or to learn more about the breast imaging services offered at the Henry Ford Cancer Institute, visit www.henryford.com/services/imaging/breast/mammography or call (888) 777-4167.

MEDIA CONTACT: Krista Boyer