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The project aims to provide clinicians with easier access to advanced imaging techniques to enable improved diagnosis and treatment of female pelvic diseases and conditions such as endometriosis and ovarian cancer.
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The Center for Translational Imaging and Precision Medicine (CTIPM) at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine will develop new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocols and educational materials for imaging in women.
SAN DIEGO, August 19, 2024–(BUSINESS WIRE)–GE HealthCare today announced a collaboration with the University of California San Diego School of Medicine to investigate advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocols and techniques for women-specific pelvic diseases and conditions and to develop comprehensive training materials for physicians. The goal of the project is to improve women’s pelvic health, filling an important gap in medical research and care. The project’s findings could enable physicians to make more informed decisions, diagnose diseases and conditions more quickly, and provide women with greater access to high-quality pelvic health care.
The Center for Translational Imaging and Precision Medicine (CTIPM) at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine will serve as a collaborating site for the implementation of the project. The project will be led by Rebecca Rakow-Penner, MD, PhD, associate professor of radiology and bioengineering at UC San Diego and deputy director of the CTIPM.
The project covers a broad spectrum of female pelvic diseases, including better visualization of endometriosis and ovarian cancer through MRI techniques in both clinical and academic research settings.
Pelvic disorders and conditions in female patients are often under-screened, misdiagnosed and ineffectively treated, which can place a great burden on women and imposes a significant economic burden on healthcare systems, hospitals and patients. In the United States, pelvic pain accounts for an estimated 20% of all outpatient secondary care appointments for female patients and results in an estimated $882 million in outpatient treatment costs.1.
“We want to democratize advanced imaging for women and improve access to high-quality care in the San Diego community and beyond,” said Rebecca Rakow-Penner, MD, chief of the Division of Imaging and Radiology at UC San Diego Health. “Women’s care requires an individualized approach, and we hope to advance women’s care by improving the diagnosis and treatment of benign and malignant pelvic disease in women. The results of the collaboration will potentially help improve the patient experience and equip physicians with tools to provide better care that every woman deserves access to.”
In addition to the protocols, the project will also create training and educational materials that could be made available as resources to GE HealthCare MRI users worldwide, with the hope of creating a lasting impact in regional and global communities. Improved access to advanced imaging for clinicians can help improve the diagnosis and treatment of pelvic diseases and conditions in patients.
“Diseases and conditions that affect patients below the navel are often misdiagnosed, misunderstood and under-researched in our industry,” said Dr. Erin Angel, Global Vice President, Research and Scientific Affairs at GE HealthCare. “We are optimistic that the results of the project will contribute to greater standardization of modern imaging procedures and ultimately enable physicians to make more informed decisions. We believe this project can help fill an important gap in women’s healthcare and provide access to innovative solutions for women around the world.”
The goal of the collaboration is to improve women’s pelvic health care and expand access to innovative imaging solutions for patients to enable faster diagnosis and treatment and improved patient care.
To learn more about GE HealthCare imaging solutions, visit https://www.gehealthcare.com/products/imaging.
About GE HealthCare Technologies Inc.
GE HealthCare is a leading global innovator in medical technology, pharmaceutical diagnostics and digital solutions. We provide integrated solutions, services and data analytics to make hospitals more efficient, doctors more effective, therapies more precise and patients healthier and happier. GE HealthCare has served patients and providers for more than 125 years, driving personalized, connected and compassionate care while simplifying the entire patient journey. Together, our imaging, ultrasound and image-guided therapy, patient care solutions and pharmaceutical diagnostics businesses help improve patient care from diagnosis to therapy to monitoring. We are a $19.6 billion company with approximately 51,000 employees working to create a world where healthcare knows no borders.
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1 Latthe P, Latthe M, Say L, Gülmezoglu M, Khan KS. WHO systematic review of the prevalence of chronic pelvic pain: a neglected reproductive health morbidity. BMC Public Health. 6 July 2006;6:177. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-6-177. PMID: 16824213; PMCID: PMC1550236.
Howard FM. The role of laparoscopy in chronic pelvic pain: promises and pitfalls. Obstet Gynecol Surv. 1993;48:357–387.
Mathias SD, Kuppermann M, Liberman RF, Lipschutz RC, Steege JF. Chronic pelvic pain: prevalence, health-related quality of life, and economic correlates. Obstet Gynecol. 1996;87:321–327. doi: 10.1016/0029-7844(95)00458-0.
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