New 3D Breast Biopsy System Offered at Oswego Health

(Oswego, NY – August 27, 2024) The American Cancer Society estimates about 310,720 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in the United States in 2024.  These startling statistics are why Oswego Health continually invests in its breast care program, including a recent purchase of $700,000 to now offer 3D™-guided breast biopsy.

“We are committed to providing the best possible patient care and Oswego Health is pleased to offer this advanced technology to patients in our community,” said President & CEO, Michael Backus. 

Now available at the Fulton Medical Center, Oswego Health offers 3D-guided breast biopsy, an advanced, minimally invasive technique utilizing the Hologic® Affirm® Prone Breast Biopsy System with Brevera® Breast Biopsy System, the first biopsy system to combine tissue acquisition, real-time imaging, verification, and post-biopsy handling, all in one integrated system3.

The availability of 3D™ imaging for biopsy guidance facilitates the localization and accurate targeting of lesions, including those that can be challenging to detect with conventional imaging techniques.4 In addition, this biopsy technology from Hologic has several key advantages over standard X-ray biopsy procedures, including faster targeting and fewer X-ray exposures, resulting in shorter patient procedure time and reduced patient dose versus stereotactic biopsy guidance.5

General Surgeon and breast specialist of Oswego Health Medical Practice, Dr. Ryan Walker shares, “The ability to biopsy small areas of interest that may not be visible using other imaging techniques provides a significant advantage to our patients. Integrating this ability into a system that allows these procedures to be performed with patients in the prone position represents a transformative innovation in breast biopsy. Oswego Health’s investment in this technology is another affirmation of our commitment to the early detection and diagnosis of this devastating disease.”

Pairing the Affirm® Prone Breast Biopsy System with the Brevera® Breast Biopsy System significantly enhances the patient experience by streamlining the procedure. The Brevera® Breast Biopsy System is designed to simplify the biopsy process and eases the journey for patients. With fewer steps than a conventional stereotactic breast biopsy, the Brevera system can potentially shorten procedure times by an average of 12 minutes2. Compared to traditional biopsies, this integrated approach creates a more compassionate experience for patients who are often anxious about undergoing a biopsy. The system allows physicians to verify excised tissue using real-time imaging technology, quickly identify calcifications with built-in image enhancement tools on a high-resolution touch-screen monitor, and automatically separate, identify, and analyze target samples. These samples are then seamlessly transferred to pathology with minimal handling to maintain their integrity.

Key patient benefits include:

• Faster - In one trial, 92% of biopsy procedures performed with the Brevera system, patients felt the biopsy experience was faster than they expected.[1]
• More Comfortable - 9 out of 10 patients surveyed felt less uncomfortable with their Brevera breast biopsy procedure than they expected.1
• Ergonomic Design – PFoam cushions provide pressure-point support and prone positioning keeps the needle out of view.

“At Oswego Health we are thrilled to introduce the Brevera® Breast Biopsy system to our community,” explains Duane F. Tull, MD, MBA, FACS, General Surgeon who will also be performing breast biopsies alongside Dr. Walker. “This advanced technology not only enhances the precision of breast biopsies but also significantly improves the overall patient experience. By providing quicker results and reducing the need for multiple procedures, the Brevera® system ensures a more comfortable, efficient, and reassuring process for our patients. We are committed to leveraging the latest innovations to deliver exceptional care and support to the women we serve."

Oswego Health offers a compassionate team that includes breast care surgeons, Drs. Lisa Lai, Ryan Walker, and Duane Tull, a breast care navigator, as well as 3D mammography available at Oswego Hospital and Fulton Medical Center, and digital mammography at the Central Square Medical Center. Oswego Health’s breast care program also features the SAVI SCOUT® Localization System, which uses non-radioactive, radar technology to provide real-time surgical guidance during breast surgery.

For additional information about Oswego Health’s breast care program, visit oswegohealth.org or call 315-349-5540.

[1] Data on file. Hologic, Inc. 2019. A Prospective, Block Stratified Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Performance and Operation of the Brevera® Breast Biopsy System (NCT03300206).

2 2021 Brevera® Pulse Wave Inspired Insights. Hologic Data on File.

3 K163052 510(K) Premarket Notification Brevera Breast Biopsy System 

4. Alshafeiy TI, Nguyen JV, Rochman CM, Nicholson BT, Patrie JT, Harvey JA. Outcome of Architectural Distortion Detected Only at Breast Tomosynthesis versus 2D Mammography. Radiology. 2018:171159.

5. Schrading S, Martine D, Dirrichs T, et al. “Digital Breast Tomosynthesis-guided Vacuum-assisted Breast Biopsy: Initial Experiences and Comparison with Prone Stereotactic Vacuum-assisted Biopsy.” Radiology. 2015 274:3, 654-662 E-pub 2014 Nov 12.

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About Oswego Health:  

The mission of Oswego Health is to provide accessible, quality care and improve the health of residents throughout Oswego County. As a nonprofit healthcare system established in 1881, Oswego Health is proud to be Oswego County’s largest private employer. More than 1,300 employees spread throughout its 18 locations, work for the Oswego Health system, which includes the 132-bed community Oswego Hospital, a 32-bed psychiatric acute-care facility with multiple outpatient behavioral health service locations, The Manor at Seneca Hill, a 120-bed skilled nursing facility, and Springside at Seneca Hill, an independent retirement community.  The health system also operates Oswego Health Home Care, the only hospital-based certified home healthcare agency in the County as well as two outpatient centers, including the Fulton Medical Center, offering urgent care, lab, medical imaging, physical therapy, and occupational health services, and the Central Square Medical Center, offering urgent care, lab, medical imaging, and physical therapy services. In addition, the healthcare system includes Oswego Health Medical Practice, a multi-specialty medical group offering the community accessible, high-quality healthcare. 100+ physicians, advanced practice providers, and caregivers offer an extensive array of services across CNY, including primary care and specialty care in the areas of orthopedics, cardiology, ENT, gastroenterology, breast care, general surgery, urology, and bariatrics. For more information about Oswego Health visit www.oswegohealth.org.