Waiting for answers after a suspicious breast scan can be one of the most stressful experiences in a person’s life. At Monash Health Imaging, that experience is now faster, more comfortable, and with improved outcomes, thanks to a breakthrough imaging service called Contrast Enhanced Mammography (CEM).
A new era in breast imaging
CEM was introduced at Moorabbin Hospital last year, following a major upgrade to the mammography unit with a new mammography machine offering both CEM imaging and CEM-guided biopsies. This investment has allowed Monash Health’s Moorabbin Hospital to become the first site in Victoria to perform the advanced technique of CEM-guided breast biopsies.
CEM works by injecting a contrast dye into the bloodstream before the scan. The dye highlights areas with increased blood flow, which can be a sign of cancer. This allows doctors to spot abnormalities that may not be visible on standard mammograms or ultrasounds.
Faster, more comfortable, and more accessible care
CEM offers significant benefits for specific patient groups, such as those undergoing post-breast cancer surveillance. It improves diagnostic accuracy and delivers a superior patient experience by enabling faster same-day assessments, often eliminating the need for breast ultrasound.
Aimee Marriott, General Manager of Diagnostic Imaging said ‘Patients are more relaxed, they’re sitting up, staff are with them the whole time, and the procedure usually only takes 20 minutes. That makes a big difference.’
Feedback from patients has been overwhelmingly positive. Since the program began, most patients receiving breast checks at Moorabbin Hospital have chosen CEM over conventional mammography.
‘CEM may help reduce unnecessary patient anxiety by lowering the number of recalls for further imaging and biopsies,’ said Linda Truong, Chief Medical Imaging Technologist at Moorabbin Hospital.
‘It provides more detailed information and helps differentiate between benign and malignant findings, which supports clearer and faster decision making.’
As a result, therefore, a significant proportion of breast biopsies performed under CEM-guidance have shown cancerous changes, enabling breast radiologists to detect cancers earlier, leading to improved treatment outcomes.
Left: Dr Poonam Thakur, Dalena Nguyen, Dr Alexandra Stanislavsky, Nicole McCotter, Linda Truong. Right: Chantelle Khawli, Dr Upuli Pahalawatta, Amanda Higginbotham, Kendal Ward, Dr Brooke Sawyer.
A smarter system and a compassionate approach
The introduction of CEM and CEM-guided breast biopsies has also freed up resources, with fewer patients needing breast ultrasound and MRI-guided breast biopsies.
‘CEM has streamlined our workflow in many ways,’ said Dr Brooke Sawyer, Divisional Head of Women’s Imaging.
‘It’s not just about better imaging; it’s about better access and faster care with improved patient experience. It’s even increased job satisfaction for our breast imaging staff, who work collaboratively throughout the day, detecting breast cancers.’
The success of CEM at Moorabbin Hospital has enabled the introduction of CEM at Casey Hospital introduced in May this year, under the guidance and support of Rebecca Woodley, increasing patient access to CEM across the health network.
With most patients choosing CEM and cancers being detected earlier, Monash Health is transforming breast cancer diagnosis and setting a new benchmark in care. The initiative is now in the running for a Victorian Public Healthcare Award. We wish the team every success when the winners are announced later this year.
The CEM project at Moorabbin Hospital is led by Dr Brooke Sawyer and Linda Truong, with support from a dedicated imaging team.