Swedish firm combines densitometry with digital mammography

Sectra hopes to strengthen its position in women's healthcare with the availability of osteoporosis testing as part of its digital MicroDose mammography system.

The Swedish company is best known for its PACS but also involved in mammography. It showcased at ECR its bone mineral densitometry software integrated with a full-field digital mammography (FFDM) system.

"Women come in for mammography screening. Why not also put their hands on the detector and check for osteoporosis?" said Staffan Bergstrom, Sectra vice president of marketing. "It is a neat business model."

The company has installed about a half-dozen of the FFDM systems featuring amorphous silicon flat detectors at sites in Europe. A few research sites are also operating in the U.S. The bone densitometry capability will be offered as an option on future sales in Europe.

The company has not yet determined a price for this option, although Bergstrom says it will not be high. Its availability will help differentiate the MicroDose product from competitors, while offering an additional revenue stream for practitioners who choose this capability.

"For the women, since they are already there for a mammography checkup, it makes sense to check for the risk of osteoporosis," he said. "It is the same target group: women over 40."