Philadelphia – ACR Image Metrix™ will conduct a multi-reader clinical study to determine whether the addition of the iCAD, Inc. CT Colon Computer-Aided Detection (CAD) system enables radiologists interpreting CT colonography images to detect more cancers than they would without utilizing the iCAD system in the image interpretation process. ACR Image Metrix will work with iCAD to develop and execute a clinical study to support U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of CT Colon CAD.
“ACR Image Metrix is proud to undertake such an important study. CT colonography is a cutting edge technology that has the potential to save countless thousands of lives when effectively utilized. It is important to know whether adjunct technologies such as CAD can help make CT colonography even more effective at detecting colorectal cancer, the nation’s second leading cancer killer,” said Bruce J. Hillman, M.D., FACR, ACR Image Metrix director of scientific affairs.
CT Colonography employs cutting edge, virtual reality technology to produce three-dimensional, “fly through” images that permit a thorough and minimally invasive evaluation of the entire colorectal structure for cancer and precancerous polyps. CAD computer software would then search the CT images obtained for abnormal areas of density or mass that may indicate the presence of cancer and precancerous polyps. The CAD system highlights these areas on the images, alerting the radiologist to the possible need for further analysis.
“This partnership represents a major step forward in the development of our Colon CAD product,” said Ken Ferry, President and Chief Executive Officer of iCAD. “We feel that working with ACR Image Metrix, a group with significant expertise in radiology clinical trial management, will put us in an optimal position to submit solid clinical data to FDA and meet our goals for this important product line.”
Colorectal cancer is the third most frequently diagnosed cancer and second leading cause of cancer death in men and women in the United States. Yet, despite the known benefits of screening, studies indicate that the majority of the 82 million Americans aged 50 and older are not being screened for the disease.
The recently presented results of the American College of Radiology Imaging Network’s National CT Colonography Trial, along with a number of published studies, indicate that CT colonography is a viable colorectal cancer screening alternative and less invasive than the “gold standard“ optical colonoscopy. Legislation was recently introduced to the U.S. House of Representative which would provide mandatory Medicare reimbursement to providers of CT Colonography.
“It is clear from the low compliance levels that we need more options in colon cancer screening,” said Hillman. “We feel that CT Colonography has the potential to drastically improve colon cancer screening and we look forward to exploring how CAD can impact and enhance this new option for detecting cancer.”
About ACR Image Metrix
ACR Image Metrix is a for-profit contract research organization headquartered in the American College of Radiology Philadelphia office, alongside ACR’s clinical research division, which has served as an industry leader for more than three decades. The ACR research division, on whose successes ACR Image Metrix is based, has conducted more than 500 clinical trials involving as many as 50,000 patients and handled more than 50 million medical images. Its portfolio includes such high-profile studies as the American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ACRIN) Digital Mammographic Imaging Screening Trial (DMIST) and the ACRIN National Lung Cancer Screening Trial (NLST). ACR Image Metrix offers a complete menu of imaging CRO services, from study design to design of electronic data forms and image archiving, to image interpretation and quantitation. Revenue from the various research projects carried out by ACR Image Metrix will be used to help fund future ACRIN, Radiation Therapy Oncology Group®, and Quality Research in Radiation Oncology (Q-RRO) ™ studies.
About iCAD, Inc.
iCAD, Inc. (NASDAQ: ICAD) is an industry-leading provider of Computer-Aided Detection (CAD) solutions that enable healthcare professionals to better serve patients by identifying pathologies and pinpointing cancer earlier. iCAD offers a comprehensive range of high-performance, upgradeable CAD systems for the high, mid and low volume mammography markets. iCAD is entrusted with the task of early cancer detection by over one thousand women’s healthcare centers worldwide. For more information, call +1 877 iCADnow or visit www.icadmed.com.
To learn more about ACR Image Metrix please visit www.imagemetrix.acr.org or call (888) 817-0817.
To arrange an interview with Dr. Hillman, please contact ACR Public Relations Manager Shawn Farley at (703) 648-8936 or sfarley@acr.org.
Shawn Farley Public Relations Manager American College of Radiology 1891 Preston White Drive Reston, VA 20191 (703) 648-8936 Office (703) 715-4397 Fax (800) 227-5463 Ext. 4936
