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For Immediate Release: Contact Person: Henry F. Robertson Halifax Regional Purchases Computer System to Help Detect Breast Cancers Halifax Regional Medical Center recently purchased a Second Look computer-aided detection (CAD) system capable of aiding in the detection of tiny breast cancers from mammogram films. The FDA approved system digitizes a patient’s mammogram and highlights abnormalities that are of concern. “The radiologist will complete an initial reading of the film and then look at the results produced by the Second Look system,” said Bill Navarro, Manager of the Radiology Department at HRMC. “If the Second Look detects a possible lesion, the radiologist is prompted to take a closer look at the spot before making a final diagnosis,” he added. A study published in the American Journal of Roentgenology, a nationally recognized journal for radiology, concluded that, “For every 100,000 women with breast cancer identified without the use of computer-aided detection, an estimated additional 21,200 cancers would be found with the use of computer-aided detection.” “Many of the small cancerous lesions found with the use of Second Look will be in the early stages of formation,” said Navarro, “And the patient has a much higher chance of survival when the tumor is found early.” Purchasing the Second Look system demonstrates a continual effort by HRMC to provide quality patient focused women’s health services. The Second Look system should be delivered to HRMC within the next few weeks and will be operational shortly thereafter. |