New Data Show Seno Medical Instruments' Imagio™ May Help Reduce Negative Biopsies for Breast Cancer

CHICAGO, Dec. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Seno Medical Instruments, Inc., the company pioneering opto-acoustic imaging as a tool to improve the process of diagnosing breast cancer, today announced preliminary information from a feasibility study of its Imagio™ breast imaging device. Results from the feasibility study suggest that information from Imagio, beyond that available from traditional breast ultrasound, may be helpful in assisting physicians in their decisions whether to recommend biopsies for women with suspicious breast masses.  The data were presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of America (RSNA), which concludes here this Friday.

Imagio combines an imaging technology based on light-in and sound-out called "opto-acoustics" with traditional ultrasound. The opto-acoustic images provide a unique blood map in and around suspicious breast masses. Unlike other imaging modalities, Imagio doesn't expose patients to potentially harmful ionizing radiation (x-rays) or injectable contrast agents.

"Given these early results, I believe that opto-acoustics could potentially spare some BI-RADS 4a cases and some BI-RADS 4b cases from needing to undergo biopsies," said study investigator Kenneth Kist, M.D., Associate Professor of Radiology at UT Health Science Center in San Antonio, Texas. "This could represent a significant advance in the diagnostic path for breast cancer and I look forward to seeing the results of the ongoing U.S. Pivotal Study."

The BI-RADS classification is used by radiologists to predict the probability of malignancy of a breast mass based on imaging results. A BI-RADS 3 mass only carries up to a 2% chance of being cancerous. Patients with masses in the BI-RADS 3 category can safely wait to see if the mass changes or grows. A BI-RADS 4a mass is considered to have more than a 2% but less than or equal to 10% chance of being cancerous, and a BI-RADS 4b mass is considered to carry from greater than 10% to less than or equal to 50% risk of malignancy.  Patients whose masses are deemed BI-RADS 4a or higher will almost always undergo a core needle or surgical biopsy.

For this study (Abstract LL-BRS-WE5B), five blinded readers independently assessed Imagio images from 73 patients with 74 breast masses. All of the masses were biopsied to provide a gold-standard comparator. Readers were blinded to the subjects' medical history, biopsy report, histology report, clinical records and follow-up. All 34 detected cancer masses remained at their original BI-RADS classification.

In the 40 remaining benign masses, downgrades to BI-RADS 3 were achieved in 12 of 22 original BI-RADS 4a diagnoses as a result of opto-acoustics. Three of 13 BI-RADS 4b masses were downgraded to BI-RADS 3.

Each year in the U.S. 1.7 millionⁱ women undergo core needle or surgical breast biopsies after a suspicious mass is found through breast imaging or self-exams. However, up to four out of five of these biopsies reveal benign pathologyⁱⁱ.

A separate electronic exhibit (Abstract LL-BRE2487) providing an overview of opto-acoustic technology was also displayed throughout the meeting.

"These early results underscore the potential of opto-acoustic imaging technology which we believe represents a significant step forward in cancer diagnosis," said Thomas Stavros, MD, FACR, FSRU, FRANZCR, Medical Director, Seno Medical Instruments. "This feasibility study shows that Imagio has potential to lead to better outcomes for women and fewer biopsies. We are working diligently with 16 leading breast imaging centers across the U.S. to complete our Imagio Pivotal Study that will form the basis of our Premarket Approval Application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration."

About RSNA

The Radiological Society of North America (RSNA®) is an international society of radiologists, medical physicists and other medical professionals with more than 51,000 members from 136 countries across the globe. RSNA hosts the world's premier radiology forum, drawing approximately 55,000 attendees annually to McCormick Place in Chicago, and publishes two top peer-reviewed journals: Radiology, the highest-impact scientific journal in the field, and RadioGraphics, the only journal dedicated to continuing education in radiology.
www.rsna.org

About SENO Medical Instruments, Inc.

Seno Medical Instruments, Inc. is a San Antonio, Texas-based medical imaging company committed to the development and commercialization of a new standard in cancer diagnosis: opto-acoustic imaging. Seno's Imagio™ breast imaging system uses opto-acoustic technology co-registered with ultrasound to generate functional and anatomical images of the breast. The opto-acoustic images provide a unique blood map around suspicious breast masses while the ultrasound provides a traditional anatomic image. Through the appearance or absence of the two hallmark indicators of cancer – angiogenesis and deoxygenation – Seno believes that Imagio images will be a more effective tool to help radiologists confirm or rule out malignancy than current diagnostic imaging modalities – without exposing patients to potentially harmful ionizing radiation or contrast agents. Seno's platform technology may also address other disease applications. To learn more about Seno Medical's opto-acoustic imaging technology and applications, visit www.SenoMedical.com.

ⁱ Data provided by Thomson Reuters In-Patient and Out-Patient Views.   
ⁱⁱ Silverstein MJ, et al. Image-Detected Breast Cancer: State of the Art Diagnosis and Treatment. Journal of the American College of Surgeons. 2005;201(4):586-597.

SOURCE Seno Medical Instruments, Inc.