Digital Imaging Equipment for Cancer Diagnosis
We were contacted in late 2004 by the East Suffolk Breast Screening Service to help them fund a Senovision Stereotactic Digital Imaging Unit.
Through the National Breast Screening Programme smaller and smaller breast cancers are being found, including a condition called Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) which is a non-invasive change in the breast cells. The discovery of this condition requires an x-ray guided breast biopsy using an attachment on the mammography machine called a stereotactic unit. (In the year 2003/2004 170 of these biopsies were carried out.)
The biopsy required the patient to sit very still with her breast compressed in the mammography machine for 15 to 20 minutes, whilst x-rays were taken and processed. Any movement resulted in the biopsies being inaccurate and having to be repeated – usually on another day – a procedure which was very distressing for the patient concerned.
We helped to fund a replacement machine – a Digital Stereotactic Unit called Senovision – which meant getting instant pictures on a monitor. This halved the procedure time making it less distressing and more accurate. There have been fewer repeat biopsies, saving time and appointments.