DIAGNOSING breast cancer at Derriford Hospital will be even more accurate as a result of a new technique and upgraded technology that allows breast imagers to see more clearly into the breast tissue.

Paid for by The Primrose Foundation and sponsorship from Siemens, The Primrose Breast Care Centre will be one of the first in the country to install the digital breast tomosythesis upgrade to one of the Siemens Mammomat Inspiration x-ray machines.

Tomosynthesis is a three-dimensional imaging technique that provides an arbitrary set of reconstructed images in the breast which form a 3D data set of the entire breast volume. The individual reconstructed images can be viewed as if seeing different layers within the breast, blurring out information above and below the area of interest and so enhancing the visualisation of suspected lesions.

Tomosynthesis has the potential of improving early detection of breast cancer and allows breast imagers to make more accurate diagnosis with fewer false alarms. The technique works particularly well for younger women and women with small cancers hidden in glandular tissues.

Initially the upgrade will be used as part of an important study alongside Dundee and Durham to compare the accuracy of digital breast tomosynthesis with digital mammography (breast x-rays) in women under the age of 60 with a clinical suspicion of breast cancer. The results will make it clear the scale of the DBT upgrade benefit across all clinical practice.

Dr Gareth Porter Consultant Radiologist and Clinical Director of Imaging said: 'We are pleased to be one of the first trusts to support this new technology which will help us to improve the quality of the service we provide.

'Without the support of the Primrose Foundation we would not be in the fortunate position to develop the clinical research that will help shape future clinical practice further improving the care of women with breast problems.' The Primrose Breast Care Centre is designed to provide a dedicated facility for investigation and treatment of benign breast problems and breast cancer, bringing together the surgical, radiology and breast care nursing teams.