Digital Mammography Goes Mobile

Siemens is reporting that its Mammomat Novation digital mammography system has been approved in EU for installation on mobile units.

For the first time, breast cancer screenings are performed with digital systems built into trailer trucks. The trailers are connected to a stationary screening center where the final diagnosis is made. This type of mobile digital breast cancer screening is especially suitable for women living in rural communities or those who are more homebound than before. In Germany, women between 50 and 69 years of age are entitled to free mammography examinations every other year…
Women between 50 and 69 years of age are contacted per mail to participate in mammography screenings. For the X-ray examination, they are sent directly to the mobile trailer or a stationary screening practice. Comfortable trailer trucks fully equipped with a digital mammography unit are used for mobile digital screening. Siemens is using the digital mammography system Mammomat Novation and a special workstation for patient data acquisition and image processing. An image server is used for temporary image storage. The mobile stations are connected to a stationary screening center via a so-called MIS system (Mammography Screening Information System). From there the data of all patients are distributed to the respective examination facilities and diagnosed by specially trained physicians in accord with the “second set of eyes” principle or, if additional diagnostic clarification is required, discussed further in interdisciplinary meetings. Requirements regarding personnel and technology that have been standardized across Europe ensure high-quality mammographies…
Mammomat Novation by Siemens works with the newest full field detector technology based on amorphous selenium (a-Se). A photo conductor, which converts X-rays directly into electrical signals, avoids scattered radiation effects that may occur with other technologies and compromise image quality. A large detector surface (24 x 29 cm) ensures that not more than one exposure is necessary even for larger breasts and that the entire breast including the pectoral muscle is displayed. A new compression plate enables central positioning of the breast in all projections without cumbersome readjustments of the X-ray arm. And the Opcomp function ensures low-pain examinations. During the examination, this function ensures that only the pressure required for optimal digital imaging is applied to the breast.
The comprehensive system solution for digital mammography is supplemented by a dedicated acquisition workstation as well as the reporting station syngo MammoReport. A new case (up to eight mammograms) is selected with syngo MammoReport in less than a second. Also earlier reports or evaluations acquired with other modalities can be displayed quickly and effectively.

The press release…