Aurora Imaging Technology Inc. today announced that the Aurora(R) 1.5Tesla Dedicated Breast MRI System is immediately available to patients at the MaryEllen Locher Breast Center through Memorial Health Care System. The Aurora System is accessible to patients in Chattanooga, Tenn. and its surrounding areas at the 12,000 square foot women’s center that offers a team of breast health specialists and the latest technology to fight breast disease.
The Aurora System is the only Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared dedicated breast MRI system specifically developed for the detection, diagnosis and treatment monitoring of breast disease. It features an exclusive precision gradient coil design to provide a large homogeneous elliptical field of view to image both breasts, the chest wall and axillae in a single bilateral scan. The benefit of this breakthrough design is the production of outstanding images in both clarity and contrast.
“We are thrilled to have the Aurora System at our center as it plays an important role in our breast health practice,” said Jessie Varnell, M.D., co-medical director, MaryEllen Locher Breast Center. “Our center now has exceptional MRI capabilities provided by the Aurora System, which has recently detected a lesion on a patient that was not seen on mammogram or ultrasound. This type of high-quality result makes a big difference not only in the convenience for our patients, but it also helps us provide patients with the most thorough and most efficient medical care available.”
The implementation of the Aurora System at the MaryEllen Locher Breast Center strategically addresses Tennessee’s cancer statistics. According to the Tennessee Cancer Registry’s report, Cancer in Tennessee, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Tennessee women. Additionally, breast cancer is diagnosed almost twice as often as any other malignancy, and is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among Tennessee women ages 25 to 44.
“The breast cancer statistics in Tennessee are significant. However, breast cancer mortality rates can be reduced through early detection from physical examination and breast cancer screening, and the Aurora System was exclusively developed to tackle this issue,” said Olivia Ho Cheng, president and chief executive officer, Aurora Imaging Technology Inc. “The Aurora System’s advanced MRI technology is a truly unique tool because it is specifically designed from the ground up to aid in the battle against breast disease. The availability of the Aurora System at breast centers throughout the U.S., like the MaryEllen Locher Breast Center, directly supports the most recent American Cancer Society guidelines, recommending breast MRI for women at increased risk of breast cancer.”
Serving more than half of the breast cancer patients in Chattanooga, Tenn., the MaryEllen Locher Breast Center chose the Aurora System to offer a targeted tool that will best service the specific needs of their patients. Prior to the installation of the Aurora System, the MaryEllen Locher Breast Center shared a traditional full body MRI system with the Memorial’s general imaging center, which was at more than 100 percent of its capacity, posing an inconvenience for patients in need of a timely breast MRI. The Aurora System is now an integrated tool within the MaryEllen Locher Breast Center to offer patients a more efficient and conveniently accessible imaging service.
The installation of the Aurora Dedicated Breast MRI System at the MaryEllen Locher Breast Center marks the first breast health center in Chattanooga, Tenn., and only the second center in the state to house this advanced imaging technology.
About Memorial Health Care System
Memorial Health Care System is a not-for-profit, faith-based health care organization dedicated to the healing ministry of the Catholic Church. Founded by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth and strengthened as part of Catholic Health Initiatives, it offers a continuum of care including preventative, primary and acute hospital care, as well as cancer and cardiac care, orthopedic and rehabilitation services. Memorial is a regional referral center of choice with 4,000 associates and more than 700 affiliated physicians providing health care throughout Southeast Tennessee and North Georgia. Memorial is recognized as one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals by Thomson for excellence in quality of care. To learn more, visit www.memorial.org.
About Aurora Imaging Technology Inc.
Aurora Imaging Technology Inc. is a private company based in North Andover, Mass. committed to expanding the fight against breast cancer. Aurora strives to manufacture the highest quality and most cost-effective breast MRI solutions and partners with a growing number of the nation’s finest breast care centers to provide the ultimate in the detection, diagnosis, biopsy and treatment of breast cancer. The Aurora System is in clinical use at a growing number of leading breast care centers in the United States, Europe and Asia. To find an Aurora Breast MRI System near you, visit www.auroramri.com.
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