Is the exam covered by insurance?
This office does not directly take insurance and is not a Medicare provider. With the exception of Medicare, you may be able to be partially or fully reimbursed with most private insurance plans. Please check with your insurer to find out. If it is not covered, lobby your carrier to do so, because the mammogram may not be effective if you have dense breasts or implants.
What is breast density?
Breast density is a measurement used to describe the proportion of different tissues that make up your breasts. Breast density is not a measure of how your breasts look or feel, but rather how they appear on a mammogram.-This test can be performed in women with implants?
Yes, women with implants are good candidates for SonoCiné AWBUS. Evidence suggests that suspicious masses may be more difficult to detect with implants as in dense tissue, and there is no danger of damaging the implants.
How long does the exam take?
Plan to be in the exam room for approximately 20 minutes. The exam itself is quick (7-10 minutes, depending on the size of the breasts), but it takes time to prepare and remove the camisole and ultrasound gel at the end of the exam.-Is there compression or pain?
You will feel slight pressure as the operator passes the transducer over your breasts. This is a painless procedure.
SonoCiné is safe, using only simple sound waves
SonoCiné is comfortable: no compression, use a nipple pad.
No injections
No radiation
How do I know that the study works or is effective?
SonoCiné AWBUS has been effective for many women. Hear their testimonials! (testimonials must be a link to testimonial videos)
Is the study approved by the FDA?
SonoCiné AWBUS is FDA 510k Approved: “The SonoCiné Automated Whole Breast Ultrasound System is indicated for use as an adjunct to mammography, but is not intended to be used as a replacement for screening mammography.”
How is this study better than conventional freehand ultrasound?
The SonoCiné system is designed to overcome the inconsistencies that result from handheld scanning. the inherrent complexity of hand scanning detracts from the ability to recognize subtle findings of cancer. SonoCiné technology robotically scans the entirety of both breasts to include the axilla (underarms) and records approximately 3,000 images, which are displayed in a movie format for the radiologist to review.
Do I still need a mammogram?
Yes. SonoCiné AWBUS is an adjunct to mammography for women whose mammograms may be inconclusive due to dense breast tissue and/or implants. Ultrasound and mammography show specific areas of interest differently, and are therefore equally important.
Common doctors questions
Is the insurance reimbursement?
Reimbursement will vary dependent on the insurance carrier using CPT Code 76641 (ultrasound, breast, unilateral to include axilla when performed, complete) and charged for each breast. Visit our Reimbursement page to learn more.
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The CPT® 2015 Codebook added two new procedure codes:
- 76641 Ultrasound, breast, unilateral, real time with image documentation, including axilla when performed; complete
- 76642 Ultrasound, breast, unilateral, real time with image documentation, including axilla when performed; limited
Code 76641 describes a complete breast ultrasound examination of all four quadrants and the retroareolar region. Code 76642 describes a limited breast ultrasound examination, including one or more elements of 76641, however, not all four. To support the service performed and billed, you should document a thorough exam of the anatomic area(s), and provide image documentation and a final, written report of results and impressions.
You may report either 76641 or 76442 once, per breast, per session. Both codes are unilateral. If medical necessity requires bilateral imaging, you may append modifier 50 Bilateral Procedure. The 2015 National Physician Fee Schedule Relative Value File (January Release) assigns a “1” bilateral indicator to 76641 and 76442, which means that Medicare will allow 150 percent of the standard reimbursement for properly billed bilateral procedures.
How long does the exam take to perform (acquisition)?Depending on breast size and using a 5cm transducer, the typical exam time is between 3 to 6 minutes per breast and approximately 20 minutes in the exam room.
Do I need a dedicated room?
No, because SonoCiné AWBUS easily connects (and disconnects) from your ultrasound unit, you may utilize the room for other procedures as necessary.
Who performs the actual exam?
We train ultrasound and mammography technologists, and nurses, dependent upon site accreditation.
Do I need special training?
Other than training in breast ultrasound there are no requirements in order to read SonoCiné AWBUS exams. However, there may be specialty and sub-specialty requirements. Please contact sonocine.com for more information on clinical education resources.
How long does the exam take to read?
With the experience of 50-100 cases, reading time depends on breast size and tissue heterogenity in normal patients, and typically range is 3 to 7 minutes.
Do you have clinical studies? trials?
Yes, read clinical studies or contact sonocine.com for more information.
SonoCiné AWBUS has FDA 510k clearedance: “The SonoCiné Automated Whole Breast Ultrasound System is indicated for use as an adjunct to mammography, but is not intended as a replacement for screening mammography.”
How does SonoCiné compare with competing technologies?
How does SonoCiné AWBUS compare to existing ABUS 3D technology?
Will this work with my existing Ultrasound Equipment?
Yes, SonoCiné AWBUS connects to your existing equipment and works with most all commercial ultrasound machines.
Is this compatible with my PACS?
Yes, SonoCiné AWBUS generates industry-standard DICOM files, which can be transferred to, and retrieved from, most all commercial PACS systems.
What is the revenue opportunity with this technology?
Utilizing a supplementary breast ultrasound examination, like SonoCiné AWBUS, increases early-stage, invasive breast cancer detection by up to 100%, especially for the more than 45% of women with mammographically dense breasts and/or implants.
Radiologists are able to enter an additional revenue stream for their facilities by offering the SonoCiné AWBUS exam as an adjunctive examination to mammography for women with inconclusive mammograms.
Gynecologists are now able to provide an even more comprehensive level of care by offering SonoCiné AWBUS to their patients during annual, routine check-ups. The examination can be performed by a sonographer, and read by an off-site radiologist. For the interpretation of SonoCiné studies, we help providers set up process-efficient, turn-key telemedicine solutions.