Breast cancer screening: senology, Hôpital Privé La Casamance

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. It is also a complex pathology with multiple facets. Treating it therefore requires the intervention of many specialists: radiologists, surgeons, anatomopathologists, oncologists and radiotherapists.

The mammography department at Hôpital Privé La Casamance was set up in the 1990s. In 2006, it was expanded from 40 m2 to 300 m2.

A full-field 24 x 30 digital mammography unit was installed in 2011.

It now has ultrasound rooms on either side of the department, equipped with high-definition consoles for interpreting mammograms in each room.

It also has an ultrasound scanner, which completes the diagnostic technical platform.

The department also has a room dedicated to macro biopsy under stereotaxis, known as MAMMOTOME.

This machine makes it easier to detect breast cancer. This tool alone can meet all the diagnostic needs for this pathology.

The mammotome offers the possibility of obtaining very high quality samples with a diagnostic accuracy of 96 to 98%. Another advantage is that 50% of surgery for benign lesions can be avoided. The use of the mammotome makes it possible to obtain the same results previously obtained only by taking samples under general anaesthetic.

Patients only require a local anaesthetic. The procedure is therefore carried out on an outpatient basis, with patients being able to go home the same evening.

The department carries out

• Diagnostic mammography,
• screening mammography (as part of the ARCADES campaign),
• micro-biopsy under ultrasound,
• macro-biopsy under digital stereotaxy,
• macro-biopsy under ultrasound,
• pre-operative scans,
• punctures,
• breast MRI.

In 2015, the department saw more than 5,000 patients.

The senology team is made up of Drs Milliet, Lecrivain, Bouveyron, Giraud Ribierre, Djaballah, Larribe and Medina Riera.

Senology appointments: 04.91.88.43.39