Future docs may have to pass new breast exam test

March 25th, 2011 - 2:11 am ICT by Aishwarya Bhatt  

Washington DC, Mar 24 (THAINDIAN NEWS) Future doctors would be better screened to determine whether they could detect breast cancer lumps from benign cyst with the introduction of a breast model equipped with sensors.

The developers of the device received $1.8 million US federal grant to come up with the device. It is hoped that the device could determine student doctors who could better diagnose breast cancer.

The developer of the device, Dr. Carla Pugh of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, said several doctors miss cancerous lumps during breast cancer screening. The 45-year-old surgeon believes that when it comes to detecting breast cancer, it is not every doctor who should be allowed to do so.

She hypothetically quizzed that, “What if there were a test and you had to meet a minimum level of proficiency before you could do breast exams and say you’re competent?”

Women are advised to get regular breast cancer screening. Breast examinations can be self-undertaken but scientists warn against that because false diagnosis could lead to unnecessary panic. Governments and doctors at large know how important it is to get the result right after breast test. That is why Dr. Pugh’s research has been such a success.

She developed the devise with input from colleagues with backgrounds in computer science, mechanical engineering, medicine and statistics.

Related Stories

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted in Health |

Subscribe