DOT Med News (9/26, Fischer) reports that scientists “have created a new MR contrast agent that can locate and differentiate between aggressive and slow-growing, low-risk types of breast cancer at early stages.” According to DOT Med News, “The gadolinium-based agent lights up cancer biomarkers during scans, overcoming the low sensitivity of MR for imaging markers, and produces signals with different shades ofbrightness that contrast aggressive from slow-growing, low-risk types of cancer.” The research was published in Nature Communications.

Aunt Minnie (9/14, Yee) reports that a new study shows that mobile mammography programs are “a move in the right direction, but more work needs to be done to better assist women who make use of mobile mammography,” including to ensure follow-up. At team led by Dr. Madelene Lewis of the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston found that its mobile program was “only somewhat successful” in addressing the issues of getting underserved women screened. The study looked at “1,433 screening mammography exams performed in a mobile unit in 2014, and 1,434 exams performed at the university’s cancer center during the same year.” Lewis’ team “recorded associations between the two locations and characteristics such as health insurance, race, marital status, geographic area, adherence to screening guidelines, and recall rates.” 

MedPage Today (9/1, Frieden) reported that the Food and Drug Administration “approved a device to allow patients to control the pressure on their breast while undergoing a mammogram.” According to Alberto Gutierrez, PhD, director of the Office of In Vitro Diagnostics and Radiological Health at the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health, “Regular mammograms are an important tool in detecting breast cancer. However, some patients may experience anxiety or stress about the discomfort from the compression during the mammogram. This device allows patients some control over the amount of compression for their exam.” The Senographe Pristina with Self-Compression device is by GE Healthcare and “employs a handheld wireless remote control that patients use to adjust the compression force after the breast has been positioned.” Additional coverage is provided by Aunt Minnie (9/1).