ABUS Phasing Out September 3

Beginning in September, Oaklawn will no longer be offering automated breast ultrasound (ABUS). Mammography guidelines state that routine mammography with 3D mammography (tomosynthesis), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and handheld ultrasound (HHUS) are the standard of care for patients with dense breast tissue and ABUS will no longer be supported conclusively as a crucial test.

One significant drawback to ABUS is the occurrence of image artifacts, which can arise from poor positioning, motion, or inadequate contact during image acquisition. These artifacts are unwanted distortions that can lead to misinterpretations and reduce diagnostic accuracy.

ABUS does not effectively assess certain regions such as the armpit, blood vessels, and elasticity of lesions, which are important for comprehensive breast cancer evaluation. This limitation restricts its ability to provide a full diagnostic picture compared to traditional methods like handheld ultrasound and MRI which Oaklawn will continue to offer.

While ABUS can increase cancer detection rates, it has been associated with lower specificity, leading to higher false-positive rates. This means more benign lesions are likely to be flagged for further testing, potentially leading to unnecessary biopsies and patient anxiety.

Overall, while ABUS offers benefits in detecting cancers in dense breast tissue, its limitations and challenges need to be addressed to optimize its use in clinical settings. These are the reasons why Oaklawn will be phasing out ABUS and will continue to offer the appropriate standard of care for patients with dense breast tissue which is handheld ultrasound and tomography.

If you would like to schedule a mammogram, please contact the Oaklawn Women’s Diagnostic Center at (269) 789-8982.