A new state-of-the-art digital mammography machine has been successfully installed at Eastbourne DGH to improve the diagnosis of patients with suspected breast cancer.
The new machine, a GE Pristina Senograph, is one of only three of its kind in the UK. It provides high quality mammogram images with a reduced radiation dose which is of enormous potential benefit to patients. The improved quality of images enables radiologists to diagnose small or subtle cancers particularly in younger patients and those with mammographically dense breasts.
Kate Dixon – Clinical Manager, Naomi Cole – Mammographer, Rachel Pankhurst – Radiology Department Assistant, Janet Packham – Mammographer
Professor David Howlett, Consultant Radiologist said: “This machine is equipped with the very latest technology and will help us improve the detection of cancers and develop the service we are able to offer local patients. The new machine also has an additional diagnostic facility, tomosynthesis. This improves visualisation of breast tissue by taking multiple image slices to help build up a detailed multi-dimensional image of the breast.”
Towards the end of 2017 a further diagnostic tool will be available and will be fitted to the unit, a stereotactic biopsy facility. This will enable radiologists or mammographers to undertake stereotactic mammogram guided breast biopsies – currently local patients have to travel to Brighton for these procedures.