The fully digital mammography system Mammomat Novation by Siemens Medical Solutions has now been approved for mobile screening. For the first time, breast cancer screenings are performed with digital systems built into trailer trucks. The trailers are connected to a stationary screening center where the final diagnosis is made. This type of mobile digital breast cancer screening is especially suitable for women living in rural communities or those who are more homebound than before. In Germany, women between 50 and 69 years of age are entitled to free mammography examinations every other year.

In Germany, the Mammo Screening program for early breast cancer detection is in place since 2002. Breast cancer screenings are held in stationary as well as mobile facilities. The first physicians using a fully digital system in a mobile environment are, among others, Dr. Norbert Uleer and Dr. Katrin Samse who, in addition to their practices operate a mobile mammography trailer in the area of Gttingen Hildesheim Hameln, Germany. Within the framework of the project, both physicians have examined more than 900 women in either stationary or mobile facilities. The objective of the screening program is to reduce breast cancer mortality by 35 percent. With this objective in mind, the European Guidelines require a 70 percent participation of the women invited for screening. We obtain this percentage only when combining stationary and mobile examination units and by applying fast, digital technologies, said Dr. Norbert Uleer while explaining his decision to operate a mammography trailer with fully digital equipment. Through especially high-quality images that are immediately available, the new reporting system based on the diagnosis of two physicians as well as interdisciplinary consensus conferences is optimally supported and facilitates my work as the physician responsible for the program.

Women between 50 and 69 years of age are contacted per mail to participate in mammography screenings. For the X-ray examination, they are sent directly to the mobile trailer or a stationary screening practice. Comfortable trailer trucks fully equipped with a digital mammography unit are used for mobile digital screening. Siemens is using the digital mammography system Mammomat Novation and a special workstation for patient data acquisition and image processing. An image server is used for temporary image storage. The mobile stations are connected to a stationary screening center via a so-called MIS system (Mammography Screening Information System). From there the data of all patients are distributed to the respective examination facilities and diagnosed by specially trained physicians in accord with the second set of eyes principle or, if additional diagnostic clarification is required, discussed further in interdisciplinary meetings. Requirements regarding personnel and technology that have been standardized across Europe ensure high-quality mammographies.

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