PACS Technology Supports Mammography Imaging Project in Belgium

A regional Communauté Française mammography screening program is being implemented in the French-speaking region of Belgium to image women aged between 50-69 every two years, free of charge.

Carestream Health, Inc. (Rochester, NY, USA) has won three contracts for picture archiving and communications systems (PACS) to view, manage, and store digital mammography images for healthcare initiatives in the French-speaking region of Belgium. The PACS will meet the needs of a regional program for mammography screening, an extended provincial program for mammography screening within a mobile environment and a private radiology clinic.

In the first phase of the project, Carestream PACS will be installed together with a high-resolution diagnostic mammography workstation at the central computed radiography (CCR) system and connected to 10 reading centers across the region. Following a first reading by a radiologist, each center will send their mammography images via a secure connection to the CCR for a second diagnostic reading, a process that meets European guidelines stipulating that each mammography image must be read independently by two radiologists.

The PACS has capacity to store all mammography studies for five years, estimated at 60,000 from the first 10 reading centers, and will fully integrate with the distinctive Mammorias radiology information system (RIS) specifically installed to manage the regional screening program.

As the program develops over the next five years it is anticipated that up to 60 first reading centers will be connected to the CCR PACS system. As an extension of the regional program, the Province of Liège is additionally inviting women aged between 40-49 to have a free-of-charge examination annually at two specially equipped mobile vans.

To facilitate image capture, each vehicle will be fitted with a Kodak Directview Elite CR system with mammography feature. This feature enables two-up image printing aligned with the narrow chest wall, support for the exchange of image information with digital mammography and RIS/PACS systems from other vendors, and reduction of digital artifacts at the skin line. The Carestream PACS and diagnostic workstation will be installed at the central Service des Cars facility to support a first reading by radiologists and store all mammography studies for a period of five years. The second reading will be undertaken by the CCR, in line with the program of regional screening.

Plans are underway to transition this private practice to a digital workflow with a CR platform, central PACS solution, and diagnostic workstation. A Kodak Directview Elite CR system with mammography feature will capture and store images for five years. In the first phase of transition, radiologist Dr. T'Sjoen will read studies on the diagnostic workstation and either burn the images onto CD or print film for referring physicians. In the next phase, the aim is for referring physicians to directly connect to the PACS to view studies and review Dr. T'Sjoen's report. Plans for the practice also include participation in the regional Communaute Francaise Mammography Screening program.

"Carestream Health's digital mammography solutions are increasingly meeting the demands of Belgium's range of screening programs,” said Ignace Wautier, general manager of Carestream Health in Belgium. "We have a full portfolio of solutions, including flexible CR systems that are renowned for their productivity and ease of use and Carestream PACS that can be configured to optimize workflow and meet growing or changing needs. Specialized mammography tools are also available with our dedicated mammography workstation to enhance efficient diagnostic reading.”

Carestream Health is a leading provider of dental and medical imaging systems and healthcare information technology (IT) systems; molecular imaging systems for the life-science research and drug discovery/development market segments; and X-ray film and digital X-ray products for the nondestructive testing market.

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