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www.healthcare-in-europe.com 3EH @ ECR Breast CT3-D images of the entire breast from any orientation The Koning Breast CT (KBCT) sys- tem, which has been granted FDA approval, provides 3-D breast imag- es for diagnoses. The technology ftp://5.10.164.234 can acquire hundreds of images in only ten seconds, producing true 3-D images to enable a fast proce- dure with excellent patient comfort, the manufacturer explains. ‘Optional accessories for KBCT include a biopsy bracket to enable KBCT-guided biopsies of suspicious lesions, and a collimator, used to limit the X-ray beam to the area of interest. The biopsy bracket pro- vides 3-D targeting at comparable or lower radiation exposure compared to stereotactic guided biopsy.’ A view like no other The breast CT images have less distortion than mammography and the system is optimised to differenti- ate between the breast’s soft tissue and cancer tissue, Koning points out. ‘These images will be very different from 2-D mammograms. They’re truly 3-D images of the entire breast from any orientation. You can scroll through the slices (up and down, left and right) and get a unique view of the breast like never before. ‘It gives doctors tremendous free- dom in how they look at the inte- rior of the breast and evaluate its structures. It’s almost like seeing the anatomy itself.’ No breast compression As Ruola Ning PhD, Koning’s President and Founder, a pioneer and leading expert in Cone Beam CT Technology and sole inventor of cone beam breast CT technology, confirms: ‘KBCT represents a revo- lutionary advancement in breast cancer diagnosis.’ This is the first commercially available 3-D breast CT scanner designed specifically to image the entire breast with a single scan, without compression of the breast tissue – which means this proce- dure is far more comfortable for patients than regular mammogra- phy. Additionally, Koning adds that there is less radiation exposure than during a CT exam of the entire chest, because here only the breast is exposed to X-rays. Optional accessories for KBCT include a biopsy bracket to enable KBCT-guided breast biopsies of suspicious lesions, and a collimator, used to limit the X-ray beam to the area of interest. The biopsy bracket provides 3-D targeting at comparable or lower radiation exposure compared to stereotactic-guided biopsy from page 1 nt defines the goals ‘Besides, I believe we will have a five-year training scheme. Our hope lies with the national commission of the specialty, which is the official consulting agency of the ministry.’ Are you more pessimistic about the research situation? ‘I don’t like to exaggerate, but con- sequences of the financial crisis are dramatic. Budgets are low and grants have been reduced through- out Europe. There’s an impact every- where, not just on radiology. ‘In Spain the fall was brutal. Salaries in the public system have been cut by 25% over the past three years. Many doctors have left the country. ‘We have had less problems with shortage lately. Five years ago, a res- ident would have received five job offers; now he or she will receive only one. Many very well trained radiologists from Latin America have helped us fill the gap. ‘Spain is not doing that badly in other areas, such as PACS. We are above the European average in terms of IT equipment; almost 90% of Spanish hospitals have a running PACS. The electronic patient record is well developed in most Spanish regions. ‘Generally, the atmosphere is improving. We’ve started going up again, everybody can feel that.’

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