The technical aspects of adapting add-on digital stereotactic equipment for use with patient lying horizontally

Excerpt

Digital stereotactic-guided biopsies using add-ons to conventional mammogram machines are usually performed with the patient sitting upright. We have adapted the procedure so that the patient lies horizontally on a fully reclining chair. The mammogram machine is placed vertically as if for a conventional craniocaudal view; however, as the patient is horizontal breast compression is in a lateral plane. The patient (lying semi-prone or semi-supine) and the trolley are positioned according to the site and side of the lesion to bring the affected breast closest to the machine with the lesion "uppermost". This ensures maximum depth for needle movement. Our experience is with over 200 screening patients using a GE DMR Mammogram Machine with a Senovision digital add-on. The machine is in a 3.88 × 2.96 m room previously used for conventional stereotaxis. …