senoa is an innovative medical imaging device for accurate, reliable and painless breast cancer diagnosis that will cut costs on the pathway of breast cancer care. The device generates true 3D images that allow for accurate diagnosis, including in women with dense breast tissue. The imaging is performed without painful breast compression, on an examination table offering unparalleled patient comfort.
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer worldwide and the most frequent cancer among women. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 2.3 million new cases were diagnosed in 2022, causing 666,103 deaths. Put simply: 1 in 8 women develops breast cancer, and 1 in 4 of those diagnosed dies from the disease (Globocan 2022). Current forecasts predict a significant rise in both incidence and mortality, with worldwide cases expected to reach approximately 3.2 million by 2050. These figures reflect the magnitude of the problem and underscore the urgent need for better detection and treatment solutions.
Conventional 2D mammography and tomosynthesis suffer from tissue superposition, which causes both false positive and false negative findings. In these modalities, overlapping breast tissue obscures small lesions and architectural distortions, leading to missed cancers, particularly in dense breasts. It has been estimated that every fifth tumor is missed in screening (Eur Radiol, 31(4):2568, 2021). The limitations in visualizing tumor margins, subtle calcifications, and early-stage abnormalities result in diagnostic uncertainty, unnecessary patient callbacks, and delayed cancer detection that can adversely affect treatment outcomes and survival rates.
Breast compression required for mammography and tomosynthesis causes significant discomfort or pain for many women, creating a major barrier to screening compliance. About 46% of women do not re-attend screening because of pain experienced in the first screening session, resulting in missed opportunities for early detection.
Conventional mammography requires multiple patient repositioning steps and compression adjustments to obtain standard views, increasing examination time and technologist workload. Poor positioning or inadequate compression often necessitates repeat imaging, adding unnecessary patient dose and extending both appointment duration and patient discomfort. The iterative nature of obtaining optimal images reduces throughput and limits the number of patients that can be screened daily.
Conventional mammography's limitations generate substantial downstream costs. False positive findings lead to unnecessary biopsies with associated procedural costs, pathology expenses, and potential complication management. Missed cancers result in delayed diagnoses, requiring more extensive and expensive treatments for advanced-stage disease. The cumulative healthcare burden of repeat imaging, interventional procedures, and advanced cancer treatment significantly increases the total cost related to breast cancer.
senoa eliminates the need for painful breast compression. Patients lie comfortably face-down on a patient table, with the breast naturally positioned through the imaging aperture, transforming imaging from a painful procedure into a comfortable examination. This compression-free approach reduces patient anxiety, improves the overall experience, and encourages higher participation rates in recommended breast cancer imaging programs.
senoa's patient-centered design prioritizes comfort from the moment patients arrive. The ergonomic bed and compact system layout enable radiology technologists to work closely with patients during positioning, ensuring they're comfortable and relaxed before imaging begins. Once positioned, patients remain in this comfortable state throughout the brief, pain-free examination.
The true three-dimensional imaging capability of senoa eliminates tissue superposition, the fundamental limitation of conventional mammography. This technology provides high-quality imaging regardless of breast density, ensuring that women with dense breast tissue receive the same diagnostic accuracy as those with fatty breasts.
senoa acquires complete volumetric breast data in a single, rapid scan. The simplified examination protocol eliminates time-consuming compression positioning and multiple view acquisitions, reducing technologist workload and examination duration. This translates to higher patient throughput and optimized resource utilization.
senoa integrates effortlessly into existing radiology workflows through full DICOM compatibility and standard RIS and PACS connectivity. The volumetric datasets support advanced post-processing, computer-aided detection applications, and efficient radiologist interpretation. The straightforward examination protocol minimizes operator-dependent variability and reduces training requirements, enabling rapid implementation and consistent performance across technologist staff.
senoa delivers compelling economic benefits through multiple mechanisms: reduced callback rates eliminate costly additional imaging sessions; improved diagnostic accuracy decreases unnecessary biopsies and associated expenses; earlier cancer detection enables less invasive, less expensive treatment interventions; and streamlined workflow with faster examinations increases daily patient capacity, optimizing return on investment for healthcare facilities while improving patient care quality.
Interested in learning more about GratXray or our senoa breast CT technology? We're here to answer your questions and discuss how we can support your needs.