July 22, 2008 – Wellness Lubbock, a facility dedicated to women’s imaging, installed the fifth Aurora 1.5Tesla Dedicated Breast MRI System in the state of Texas, marking the first dedicated breast MRI in Lubbock County and supporting the most recent American Cancer Society guideline, which recommends breast MRIs for women at high risk of breast cancer.
The Aurora System features a precision gradient coil design to provide a large homogeneous elliptical field of view to image both breasts, the chest wall and axillae in a single bilateral scan. The benefit of this design is said to be the production of better images in both clarity and contrast. A computer-automated and fully integrated MR-guided biopsy technology reportedly more accurately determines needle placement for a seamless procedure.
Founded by Jui-Lien Chou, M.D., the Lubbock Cancer Center and Radiation Oncology of the South Plains (ROOSP) opened Wellness Lubbock in 2001 to offer residents a comprehensive women’s imaging center. Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004 after receiving routine mammograms for years, Dr. Chou was determined to find a better imaging solution for her patients, and decided upon the Aurora System because of its reputable status among colleagues in the medical community.
“If I had received routine breast MRIs rather than mammograms, I would have been diagnosed earlier, and therefore would have avoided such invasive surgery and chemotherapy,” said Dr. Chou. “Ninety percent of what we do at Wellness Lubbock is breast imaging, and with the Aurora System, we will be able to diagnose and treat our patients earlier and with more accuracy. Since its recent installation at our center, the Aurora System already has provided a diagnosis for one of our patients who had received a highly suspicious, but unconfirmed mammogram.”
According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed among women in Texas, accounting for more than 14 percent of all diagnoses and 7.5 percent of all deaths. While statewide breast cancer statistics are falling, countywide statistics for Lubbock County remain stable, according to the National Cancer Institute, representing the need for more advanced medical technologies to service patients in the Lubbock, Texas area.
“Nationally and in Texas, breast cancer statistics have declined in recent years due to early detection and progress made in medical technology, like the Aurora System,” said Olivia Ho Cheng, president and chief executive officer, Aurora Imaging Technology.
For more information: www.ROOSP.com and www.auroramri.com