Mammography Reporting Software Increases Identification of High-Risk Breast Cancer Patients

(Salt Lake City, UT, USA) has entered into an agreement with Mammography Reporting System, Inc. (MRS; Seattle, WA, USA) to help increase the identification of patients at high risk for hereditary breast cancer.

Under the terms of the agreement, MRS will incorporate "risk flags” for hereditary breast cancer risk in their breast cancer tracking software. This will enable medical professionals at mammography screening centers throughout the United States to identify patients who would benefit from hereditary breast cancer testing using Myriad's BRACAnalysis breast cancer predisposition test. According to a study published by Hughes KS, et al in the September/October 2009 issue of the Breast Journal, up to 6% of women in mammography centers, or approximately 2.4 million women, are at high risk for hereditary breast cancer and are appropriate candidates for BRACAnalysis testing.

"Millions of patients are tracked on MRS software. Identifying high-risk patients will result in even better patient care,” said Mark P. Morris, CEO of Mammography Reporting System Inc. "We now offer the radiologist built-in tools to identify those patients, and we are very excited about working with Myriad on improving these tools. Working in concert with the patients' primary care physician, radiologists who use MRS software can identify and recommend increased surveillance and BRCA gene testing for those patients who are at high risk.”

"Imaging centers represent an ideal healthcare setting where patients at risk for hereditary cancer can be identified, thereby enabling an appropriate level of monitoring and preventive care,” stated Gregory C. Critchfield, M.D., M.S., president of Myriad Genetic Laboratories, Inc. "This approach broadens and compliments Myriad's efforts to improve the healthcare of women with a family history of breast and ovarian cancer by identifying a greater number of candidates for BRACAnalysis testing.”

BRACAnalysis is Myriad's predictive diagnostic test to assess a woman's risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer based on detection of mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Myriad estimates that less than 10% of mutation carriers for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes have been identified in the United States. It is anticipated that this agreement will provide Myriad with greater penetration into the asymptomatic market—of women who do not have breast or ovarian cancer but do have a family history. Myriad will assist MRS customers in these mammography centers by providing educational materials and resources to enable healthcare providers to address the needs of those patients identified as being at high risk for hereditary breast cancer.

MRS is a provider of breast procedure-information systems in the United States. More than 2,400 facilities use MRS, making it the most widely used breast procedure reporting and tracking system worldwide. MRS estimates that approximately eight million mammogram patients are tracked with their systems early. MRS systems have proven track records in academic, fixed-site, remote-site, and mobile mammography settings.

The enhanced version (6.7E) of MRS software includes the ability to alert healthcare professionals when patient's personal or family history indicates they may be at higher risk for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, consistent with professional society guidelines.

Myriad Genetics is a molecular diagnostic company focused on developing and marketing novel predictive medicine, personalized medicine, and prognostic medicine products.

Related Links:
Myriad Genetics
Mammography Reporting System