GE HealthCare’s newest offering from its automated ultrasound system line represents a significant advancement in breast cancer screening, according to market analysis.
Invenia Automated Breast Ultrasound (ABUS) Premium, the latest ultrasound product that GE HealthCare rolled out this week, is designed to improve scanning in dense breasts.
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Apart from skin cancers, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the US. It accounts for about 1 in 3 of all new female cancers each year. Over 70% of cancers occur in dense breasts, which are found predominantly in Asian women. GE HealthCare states that about one third of cancers in dense breasts go undetected due to shortcomings in standard mammography technology. Dense breast tissue refers to tissue that is more glandular and fibrous.
Graysen Vigneux, Medical Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “For patients with dense breast tissue, where mammography alone may be insufficient, [GE HealthCare’s technology] provides a critical additional layer of detection, improving diagnostic accuracy and potentially saving lives.”
The medtech giant has inserted artificial intelligence (AI) in ABUS to automate the imaging process and detection of cancers. The technology could also decrease unnecessary biopsies by unveiling certain features of the image that help differentiate malignant tumours, allowing for earlier escalation of care.
Vigneux adds: “Early detection remains the cornerstone of improving breast cancer outcomes, and for women with dense breast tissue, automated whole-breast ultrasound offers a promising advancement. This technology enhances the ability to identify tumours that might otherwise be missed, leading to earlier intervention and better treatment options.”
Vigneux does highlight limitations of the tech. Compared to handheld devices, for example, automated whole-breast ultrasound techniques may employ lower frequency transducers, potentially resulting in lower spatial and contrast resolution compared to hand-held devices.
The expansion of GE HealthCare’s ultrasound tech will consolidate its market dominance. According to analysis by GlobalData, the company occupies the joint-largest share of the global ultrasound market with Siemens Healthineers. The market is forecast to reach nearly $12bn by 2034, driven by demand for minimally invasive diagnosis in populations with rising average ages.
GE HealthCare is doubling down in the autonomous diagnostics field, announcing a partnership with tech giant NVIDIA earlier in March. The two companies will work together on developing AI-enabled X-ray and ultrasound technology.
