First order in Ireland for Sectra MicroDose Mammography: Sectra provides digital mammography to the National Breast Screening Programme in the Republic of Ireland
The Irish National Breast Screening Programme, BreastCheck, has chosen the IT and medical technology company Sectra’s image management system Sectra PACS™ for Breast Imaging for its operation. This is Sectras’s first order in Ireland for a digital mammography solution. The order also includes one low dose digital mammography stand, Sectra MicroDose Mammography™.
Sectra PACS for Breast Imaging will allow BreastCheck to efficiently use and evaluate full field digital mammography equipment such as the Sectra MicroDose Mammography stand. "We chose Sectra as the preferred supplier of mammography technologies because we decided Sectra would be the most likely to meet the needs of BreastCheck. We are hopeful that this will lay the foundation for the development of digital imaging in the programme in the years ahead", said Niall Phelan, Medical Physicist, the National Breast Screening Programme. Sectra will provide the current two screening sites in Dublin with Sectra PACS for Breast Imaging. The system for processing and archiving of breast images will be integrated with the BreastCheck’s existing modalities, which will make all digital images available on one single platform. Sectra´s digital mammography stand will be installed and evaluated at the Eccles Breast Screening unit. Sectra MicroDose Mammography will make it possible for BreastCheck to offer women in Ireland the lowest radiation dose on the market. “The Irish Breast Screening Programme provides us with a great opportunity to demonstrate the quality and efficiency of our mammography systems. We are very impressed with BreastCheck’s long term vision of screening and, working in partnership with our new customer, we will build a very unique and comprehensive digital breast screening service. ” said Neil Emery, Commercial Manager at Sectra Ltd. About Sectra MicroDose Mammography Sectra MicroDose Mammography is an easy-to-use digital solution that supports the entire workflow, from examination to documented diagnosis. The system provides unsurpassed throughput, customised workflow and outstanding ergonomics. The system’s excellent performance is due to the workflow optimised design and the fundamentally new digital detector that enables dramatically reduced radiation doses without compromising image quality. This is an important factor in mammography screening where large numbers of healthy patients are examined. Sectra PACS for Breast Imaging is a complete system for the processing and archiving of all digital images used in mammography. With the system, all necessary information, such as images and patient data, is made available at reviewing workstations. This permits the radiologists to perform their work productively, cost-effectively and securely without compromising diagnostic quality or patient integrity. About BreastCheck BreastCheck, the Irish National Breast Screening Programme, is a free health service which aims to reduce deaths from breast cancer by finding and treating the disease early. Phase one of the programme, offering free screening to women aged 50-64 living in the Eastern Area of Ireland, began in February 2000. The current screening area is serviced by two clinical Screening units: the Eccles Screening Unit on the campus of the Mater Misericordiae Hospital and the Merrion Screening Unit at St. Vincent’s University Hospital in Dublin. Attached to these Clinical Units are a total of six mobile screening units. The area has a target population of approximately 160,000 eligible women. In 2004 the Minister for Health and Children approved funding for the roll out of phase two of BreastCheck, which is the full expansion of screening nationwide. For more information, see www.breastcheck.ie
