Conventional radiography is the most widely used diagnostic technique: some 164,000 X-rays are performed each year, a figure that represents 60% of the service’s activity.
The Hospital Universitario Son Espases has begun the complete renovation of the Radiology Service and has introduced diagnostic tools based on artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced digital and robotic technology.
Eight conventional radiology rooms have been modernised and the system of a remote control and a mammograph has been updated. The equipment was already more than fourteen years old, and the new equipment incorporates state-of-the-art technological solutions. An innovative aspect of this upgrade is that it integrates artificial intelligence-based diagnostic tools designed to assist radiologists in the interpretation of images. ‘They speed up diagnosis and make it easier to identify patterns or anomalies that might go unnoticed in traditional analysis,’ explains Dr. Joan Palmer, head of the Son Espases Radiology Service.
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Son Espases brings artificial intelligence and robotics to its facilities and radiology equipment
It should be borne in mind that conventional radiography is the most widely used diagnostic technique: some 164,000 X-rays are performed each year, a figure that accounts for 60% of the department’s activity. With these advances, the Hospital Universitario Son Espases hopes to improve the accuracy of diagnoses and optimise the capacity of the Radiology Service to meet current and future demand.
Between September and November, three new rooms were installed and work was carried out on four others. All are equipped with ceiling suspension systems, three flat panels and telemetry to improve accuracy and efficiency in imaging. In addition, it is planned to replace the old mammography equipment with a digital mammography with tomosynthesis, contrast mammography and stereotactic guided biopsy, tomosynthesis and contrast mammography imaging systems.
Mammography equipment
By January 2025, the mammography equipment at the Hospital Universitario Son Espases will be renewed, which represents a significant improvement in the diagnostic capacity of breast pathology. By incorporating an advanced digital mammograph, the hospital will be able to offer tomosynthesis (a type of 3D mammography), thereby improving the detection of lesions and providing a more detailed visualisation of the structure of breast tissue, which is particularly useful for women with dense breasts.
In addition, the ability to perform contrast-enhanced mammography can highlight areas of concern in breast tissue, which can be crucial for identifying subtle abnormalities that might go undetected in traditional mammography. The system also has technology for guided biopsies, whether by stereotaxy, tomosynthesis or contrast imaging, thereby increasing accuracy and making it easier to locate and obtain tissue samples in suspicious areas, thereby reducing diagnostic time.
Mammography is the most widely used diagnostic test for the early detection of breast cancer, and is particularly recommended for women from the age of forty or fifty as part of routine screening, although in some cases it may be indicated earlier if there are risk factors or suspicious symptoms. It is an essential tool, as it can identify tissue changes before they become palpable or present obvious symptoms.
Every year some 7,000 diagnostic mammograms are performed and some 1,800 breast biopsies are carried out at the Son Espases Radiology Service. This new equipment will not only improve the accuracy of breast cancer diagnosis but will also offer a more complete and effective experience for patients.
The renovation of several radiology rooms without interrupting care activity was a challenge that had to adhere to a demanding schedule. The plan included a sequential replacement of equipment, reorganisation of care circuits and redistribution of staff to the available rooms, which also made use of the radiology room at the General Hospital. This entire updating process has been made possible thanks to the efforts and collaboration of all the professionals involved, who have worked as a team to ensure continuity and quality in patient care.