Daniel Kopans
Encyclopedia
Daniel B. Kopans, MD, FACR
is a radiologist specializing in mammography
and other forms of breast imaging.
Dr. Daniel Kopans is a leading experts in breast cancer detection and diagnosis. He is the founder of the Breast Imaging Division in the Department of Radiology at the Massachusetts General Hospital. In 1984 he was the lead author on a paper in the New England Journal of Medicine describing the developing subspecialty of "Breast Imaging". One of the founders of this new field, Dr. Kopans has been at the forefront of combining mammography, ultrasound, and other imaging tests to aid in the detection and diagnosis of breast cancer. Dr. Kopans led the defense of screening for women ages 40–49 when an effort was made, in the 1990s, to deny these women access to screening.
Dr. Kopans is author of over 200 scientific articles. Dr. Kopans invented the Kopans Wire used in needle localization that made it possible for radiologists to accurately guide surgeons to lesions detected by mammography which made it possible to diagnose breast cancers at a smaller size and earlier stage excisional breast biopsies
. He was also instrumental in creation of the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS
) coding system used in all American mammography reports, serving as co-chair of a committee of the American College of Radiology which developed this system. This system helped to standardize the reporting of mammography results. Dr. Kopans has also been a leading figure in the development of breast tomosynthesis.
Kopans was a leading figure in the debate over the advisability of screening mammography beginning in the 1980s. During the early 1990s, following a decision by the National Cancer Institute
to drop support for screening women in their 40s, and subsequently following series of articles in the New York Times by Gina Kolata
which questioned the value of screening mammography for those in the 40-50 age group, Dr. Kopans was a leading figure during a prolonged battle, arguing in favor of the benefits of mammography. By 1997, the National Cancer Institute had reversed course and once again supported screening for women in their 40s. However, 2009 United States Preventive Services Task Force guidelines no longer recommend routine screening in women 40 to 49.
Kopans is author of the textbook Breast Imaging. He practices radiology at Massachusetts General Hospital
in Boston
and is a professor at Harvard Medical School
.
Kopans attended Harvard College
where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree Cum Laude in 1969. He received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School
in 1972, where he was also inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha
Honor Society. Following a medical internship at Dartmouth Medical School
, Dr. Kopans completed his residency training in 1977 at Massachusetts General Hospital
in diagnostic radiology, where he received board certification and was then appointed to the staff of the Department of Radiology at MGH one year later. The American Society of Breast Disease honored Daniel Kopans with the 2007 Pathfinder Award in Breast Imaging for his work in helping to improve breast cancer survival. He is also a recipient of a gold medal from the Society for Breast Imaging.
American College of Radiology
The American College of Radiology , founded in 1923, is a non-profit professional medical association composed of diagnostic radiologists, radiation oncologists, interventional radiologists, nuclear medicine physicians, and medical physicists. It is based in Reston, Virginia, with offices in...
is a radiologist specializing in mammography
Mammography
Mammography is the process of using low-energy-X-rays to examine the human breast and is used as a diagnostic and a screening tool....
and other forms of breast imaging.
Dr. Daniel Kopans is a leading experts in breast cancer detection and diagnosis. He is the founder of the Breast Imaging Division in the Department of Radiology at the Massachusetts General Hospital. In 1984 he was the lead author on a paper in the New England Journal of Medicine describing the developing subspecialty of "Breast Imaging". One of the founders of this new field, Dr. Kopans has been at the forefront of combining mammography, ultrasound, and other imaging tests to aid in the detection and diagnosis of breast cancer. Dr. Kopans led the defense of screening for women ages 40–49 when an effort was made, in the 1990s, to deny these women access to screening.
Dr. Kopans is author of over 200 scientific articles. Dr. Kopans invented the Kopans Wire used in needle localization that made it possible for radiologists to accurately guide surgeons to lesions detected by mammography which made it possible to diagnose breast cancers at a smaller size and earlier stage excisional breast biopsies
Needle-localized biopsy
Needle-localized biopsy is a procedure that uses very thin needles or guide wires to mark the location of an abnormal area of tissue so it can be surgically sampled. An imaging device such as an ultrasound probe is used to place the wire in or around the abnormal area...
. He was also instrumental in creation of the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS
BI-RADS
BI-RADS is an acronym for Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System, a quality assurance tool originally designed for use with mammography. The system is a collaborative effort of many health groups but is published and trademarked by the American College of Radiology .The system is designed to...
) coding system used in all American mammography reports, serving as co-chair of a committee of the American College of Radiology which developed this system. This system helped to standardize the reporting of mammography results. Dr. Kopans has also been a leading figure in the development of breast tomosynthesis.
Kopans was a leading figure in the debate over the advisability of screening mammography beginning in the 1980s. During the early 1990s, following a decision by the National Cancer Institute
National Cancer Institute
The National Cancer Institute is part of the National Institutes of Health , which is one of 11 agencies that are part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The NCI coordinates the U.S...
to drop support for screening women in their 40s, and subsequently following series of articles in the New York Times by Gina Kolata
Gina Kolata
Gina Bari Kolata is a science journalist for The New York Times. Her sister was environmental activist Judi Bari, and her mother was mathematician Ruth Aaronson Bari....
which questioned the value of screening mammography for those in the 40-50 age group, Dr. Kopans was a leading figure during a prolonged battle, arguing in favor of the benefits of mammography. By 1997, the National Cancer Institute had reversed course and once again supported screening for women in their 40s. However, 2009 United States Preventive Services Task Force guidelines no longer recommend routine screening in women 40 to 49.
Kopans is author of the textbook Breast Imaging. He practices radiology at Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital is a teaching hospital and biomedical research facility in the West End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts...
in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
and is a professor at Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School is the graduate medical school of Harvard University. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts....
.
Kopans attended Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree Cum Laude in 1969. He received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School is the graduate medical school of Harvard University. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts....
in 1972, where he was also inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha
Alpha Omega Alpha
The Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, commonly called Alpha Omega Alpha and abbreviated ΑΩΑ or AOA, is a national honor society for medical students, residents, scientists and physicians in the United States and Canada.-History:...
Honor Society. Following a medical internship at Dartmouth Medical School
Dartmouth Medical School
Dartmouth Medical School is the medical school of Dartmouth College, located in Hanover, New Hampshire, in the United States. The fourth-oldest medical school in the United States, Dartmouth Medical School was founded in 1797 by New England physician Nathan Smith and grew steadily over the course...
, Dr. Kopans completed his residency training in 1977 at Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital is a teaching hospital and biomedical research facility in the West End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts...
in diagnostic radiology, where he received board certification and was then appointed to the staff of the Department of Radiology at MGH one year later. The American Society of Breast Disease honored Daniel Kopans with the 2007 Pathfinder Award in Breast Imaging for his work in helping to improve breast cancer survival. He is also a recipient of a gold medal from the Society for Breast Imaging.