Hologic - Clarity of Vision

Making the Leap with Hologic

Because digital mammography was, at the time, an emerging technology, the transition of the Imaging Center from analog to totally digital was a deliberate process. “Digital was not quite ready for prime time,” Dr. Semine stated. After months of research, including site visits, and meetings with technology vendors and medical professionals, the decision was made to move ahead with the purchase of the Hologic Selenia digital mammography technology. “We were confident that we would go with Hologic,” Dr. Semine said, “because the image quality is really the best on the market.”

“We looked at all the vendors, and what they could bring to our patients here,” said Rich Guarino, Director of Radiology at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. “We bought the Selenia system based on image quality, and how that quality improves patient care.”

In fact, the Center was so impressed with the quality of the digital images from the Selenia that it committed to the purchase of the first unit on the contingency that the Hologic Selenia Technology received approval from the FDA. “We definitely made a leap of faith with Hologic,” Guarino said.

“Our workflow has improved as a direct result of the Selenia technology,” said Deborah Lockhart, Operations Manager of Women’s Imaging at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. “We’re no longer printing images or burning CD’s, increasing the efficiency within the department.”

Deborah Lockhart went on to note that the goal of Newton- Wellesley Hospital is to provide superior patient care using cutting-edge technology. “We have accomplished this with the Hologic Selenia system. Another NWH top priority is to reduce our patient’s anxiety in a friendly and helpful manner. Selenia technology has helped us achieve this goal as well. Each mammographer has the ability to view her patient’s images without leaving the exam room, taking additional images if necessary, reducing patient wait time and unnecessary anxiety.”

Advantages of Digital Images

According to Dr. Semine, the digital images from the Selenia system are far superior to analog film systems. "The most important aspect of the digital image is that it can be manipulated by the radiologist," says Dr. Semine. "You're able to interact with it much more effectively, and bring out features that you never could with analog."

“All of radiology is becoming digital,” Dr. Semine said, “and it is important that mammography departments also benefit from the potential of the digital environment.”

The radiologists of the Women’s Imaging Center, in association with Hologic, recently completed a study in the use of complementary imaging software to enhance still further the detail in the images generated by the Selenia FFDM system. “Providing physicians with the technology to see more detail with better clarity is quite valuable,” Dr. Semine said. “Improving the display of visual information inherent in digital mammograms can ultimately help physicians detect breast cancers more effectively.”

The Women’s Imaging Center has found that the digital environment allows for a seamless integration of their Hologic R2 Computer Aided Detection (CAD) software, improving the image interpretation workflow for their radiologists. “I worked with CAD since it first became available,” Dr. Semine said. “Once it’s been incorporated into the workflow, it proves to be valuable and makes even more of a difference in the digital environment.”