The American College of Radiology educates and advocates for diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.
The American College of Radiology's membership includes radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical physicists, and other specialists in imaging and nuclear medicine. Founded in 1924, the ACR provides education to the public and to professionals on the safe, effective use of these technologies. They are recognized as the accrediting authority for radiation and imaging equipment and the professionals who operate them. The accreditation and training ACR provides ensures that CT and MRI scans, mammograms and radiation treatments for cancers, such as breast cancer, are effective and safe.
Mammogram Advocacy
The ACR disagreed with the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force's recommendation against routine mammography in women age 40 to 49 and ages 75 up, and the recommendation to reduce mammogram frequency from annually to bi-annually for women 50 to74. The ACR calls the recommendations "unconscionable." It advocates that breast cancer screenings begin at age 40 and even earlier for patients with higher risk factors such as family history. ACR advocates through statements and press releases. It partners with other organizations such as the American Cancer Society and the Avon Foundation to publicize facts. ACR reports that mammography screenings helped decrease breast cancer mortality 30 percent in the last 20 years.
Breast Cancer Education
The ACR’s online education center collaborates with other organizations, such as the American Cancer Society, to produce educational pamphlets like "What You Need to Know About Mammography." Their site offers ACR accredited online continuing medical education in mammography screening and image interpretation. The Education Center offers what they call the finest radiology teaching facility in the world. Their training program provides classroom training to radiologists that includes a three day "boot camp" of intensive experience interpreting actual mammograms results and two days experience interpreting breast MRI scans.
Accreditation
ACR is the accrediting agency for facilities that use technologies involving radiology, nuclear medicine and imaging. The U.S. Veteran's Administration uses ACR to accredit their radiation oncology facilities. In May 2010 ACR announced their accreditation for the Breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging Accreditation Program (BMRAP) for facilities using this technology which helps detect breast cancer in women at high risk. ACR accreditation enables facilities that specialize in breast imaging services to qualify for Medicare reimbursement. ACR also provides accreditation for breast ultrasound, stereotactic breast biopsy, radiation oncology and nuclear medicine technologies. Their accreditation ensures facilities and their personnel meet nationally accepted standards for equipment and training. The Food and Drug Administration approved the ACR as the accrediting organization for new imaging systems companies want to introduce.
Guidance to Professionals
ACR's "Case in Point" online service allows the community of professionals to share their clinical experiences with treating specific cases including breast cancer cases. Clinicians submit experience with the diagnosis and treatment of women of varying ages with different stages of breast cancer. These case studies provide insight to other professionals. The ACR provided the federal government's National Guideline Clearinghouse with the national guidelines for treating breast cancer with chemotherapy and radiation, in partnership with other professional organizations.
Breast Cancer Research
The ACR Imaging Network is conducting or has completed five breast cancer research studies. One study will study the effectiveness of monitoring breast cancer with MRI-magnetic resonance imaging and MRSI, or Magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging. Another study funded by the National Cancer Institute will research the chemical fluorothymidine, or FLT, given to breast cancer patients before or during imaging scans. The study will evaluate FLT's ability to predict the success of chemotherapy in treating breast cancer.
Tags: breast cancer, breast cancer, nuclear medicine, with other, American Cancer, American Cancer Society
