The field of digital mammography is advancing rapidly, with new
technologies and features being introduced regularly. Many
companies with long histories in breast imaging have adapted
existing film-based products to digital systems, but Fischer
Imaging took an entirely different approach. Rather than adapting
an existing film-based product, Fischer began with the idea of
making the ultimate imaging system, built specifically for digital
imaging of breasts. This process has resulted in a system that far
surpasses the competition in terms of image quality and patient
experience. Fischer Imaging's SenoScan TrueView Digital Mammography
System has been designed from its beginnings to meet the unique
needs of radiologists, technicians, and women, and the result is a
market leader.
Image quality
Spatial resolution and contrast sensitivity are perhaps the most
crucial components of a digital mammography system, since these
features are what enable the physician to screen patients and
diagnose lesions more accurately. The key attributes of an image
are detective quantum efficiency (DQE) and pixel size. A high DQE
is the true test of system performance and, in combination with
pixel size, it allows for a better visualization of lesions.
Fischer Imaging's SenoScan uses proprietary imaging technology
to reduce scatter, improve contrast, and, provide a high
signal-to-noise ratio. SenoScan's X-ray beam is generated by a
unique, custom-designed tungsten target X-ray tube, with a slot
collimator. The collimator produces a fan beam of X-ray that scans
the breast in unison with the image receptor, thereby reducing
scatter and the effective radiation dose to the patient, and
eliminating the need for a grid. In fact, radiation dose to the
patient is reduced by as much as 60% due to this revolutionary
technology. Because the X-ray is cast in a narrow fan beam swath
(approximately 1 * 29 cm), the detector does not record scatter on
either side of the beam. Other digital mammography systems, which
use a wide beam of X-ray, rely on grids to reduce scatter at the
detector, forcing them to give a larger radiation dose to the
patient to ensure that sufficient photons pass through the
grid.
The SenoScan system also allows physicians to customize image
capture parameters to maximize the contrast and clarity of the
resulting image.
Dr. Robert McFarland, director of the Breast Center/Imaging for
Women in Wichita, KS, cites this ability as one of the key benefits
of his SenoScan system. "Digital imaging with SenoScan allows us to
improve the contrast of the image so we can detect small or subtle
lesions in very dense breast tissue. These would be undetectable in
standard mammography systems because the density of the surrounding
breast tissue would make it difficult to see minor variations. With
SenoScan, we can change the parameters to better allow the eyes to
see the subtle changes of gray."
SenoScan's pixel size is also the smallest available in any
digital mammography system, providing the highest contrast and
sharpest resolution of any system.
Steve Moseley, vice president of marketing for Fischer Imaging,
states: "SenoScan's ability to distinguish small objects far
surpasses other systems on the market. Other systems employing a
100 µ pixel have a theoretical limiting spatial resolution of just
5 line pairs per millimeter (lp/mm). The SenoScan's standard (50 µ)
and high-resolution (25 µ) modes extend to a resolution of 10 lp/mm
and beyond 14 lp/mm respectively." As noted earlier, measurable DQE
between 5 and 14 lp/mm means that SenoScan is capable of
distinguishing (detecting and characterizing) much smaller
objects.
SenoScan's screening mode resolution is 50 µ, as compared with
the competition's standard of a 100 µ pixel size. This difference
means that the SenoScan produces resolution two times higher than
the competitor's. In the SenoScan's diagnostic mode of 25 µ,
effective resolution is four times higher than the competitor's.
Given that microcalcifications can measure less than 100 µ, the
advantage of a 25 µ pixel size is clear. (See star patterns,
above.)
When Dr. McFarland was looking for a digital mammography system,
he chose SenoScan in part because of its higher resolution.
He explains, "We chose Fischer Imaging's SenoScan because we
wanted a unit that had very good resolution. The SenoScan provides
a higher resolution than what we're seeing with the competitive
unit at this time. High resolution is very important because it
allows for better visualization and increased conspicuity of
calcifications. When we can characterize calcifications, right on
the screen, as benign or as needing biopsy, we don't need to call
women back for a return visit. Additionally, the higher resolution
gives us more confidence in our decision to biopsy a calcification.
We have already seen increased patient satisfaction as a result of
our greater confidence and reduction in patient callbacks."
Patient satisfaction and comfort
As Dr. McFarland's experience and that of many other doctors
show, customer satisfaction is key to the success of any imaging
center or mammography offering; if customers are unhappy or too
anxious, they may not return for regular mammograms and certainly
will not refer other customers. The mammography system that doctors
choose is a key component of ensuring customer satisfaction and a
successful practice.
Fischer Imaging's SenoScan is uniquely designed to maximize
patient comfort and satisfaction, thanks to its larger, more
comfortable field of view and low radiation dose. SenoScan's gently
curved breast support and compression paddle cup the breast in a
more natural position.
Fischer's Moseley explains how Fischer addresses the issue of
patient comfort: "After image quality, lower dose and a larger
field of view to accommodate more women comfortably are our primary
concerns. SenoScan uses a unique curved breast support and
compression paddle. We have heard from many patients that
compression is more comfortable on a SenoScan than with other
systems. We believe that comfort is important because not only does
it ensure a better experience for the patient, but it also
potentially increases patient compliance for regular
screening."
SenoScan also has easier patient positioning than competitive
systems. This reduces the total amount of time required for the
procedurea key element in ensuring patient satisfaction.
Another key component in the patient's satisfaction is peace of
mind that the image will be clear, accurate, and reliable, so that
her doctor can be confident in his or her reading. In an era of
increasing patient education and awareness, many patients are
informed about differences between imaging systems and will request
the highest resolution system. Physicians can rest assured that
patients will be pleased to hear that they have chosen SenoScan,
the highest resolution mammography system available today.
Dr. McFarland points out an additional benefit of Fischer's
SenoScan; the system's 21 * 29 cm field of view and variable
compression plates allow for imaging of any size breast. As he
says, "The SenoScan allows for imaging of essentially all women, no
matter what their breast size. Some women are big, and some women
are very big. Some of the other units on the market cannot
accommodate women with large breasts, and we haven't had that
problem. If I weren't using SenoScan, I would have to turn away
anywhere from 5% to 10% of our total number of patients each year.
Since we image 6000 to 7000 patients each year, that's 600 to 700
women who would not be able to be imaged if it weren't for
Fischer's SenoScan."
Conclusion
Fischer Imaging's SenoScan leads the digital mammography
industry with the best image quality and the most patient
satisfaction. The highest resolution and smallest pixel size
available today combine to produce clear, high-quality images that
physicians can read with accuracy and confidence. Patient-friendly
design increases peace of mind and provides access to mammograms
for women of all sizes, while reducing the radiation dose to
patients and the discomfort of compression. The system's advanced,
future-friendly platform will embrace future improvements in
imaging technology cost-effectively, making it a wise investment
for today and tomorrow. Fischer Imaging and SenoScan are leading
the way toward the future of breast care: comprehensive, superior
quality screening that is preferred by doctors, technicians, and
patients everywhere.