Specialists at the mammology center, established in Vitebsk, plan to serve rural residents locally

The mammology center at the Vitebsk Regional Diagnostic Center combines ultrasound diagnostics, X-ray and electroimpedance mammography rooms, an operating room, as well as consultations with oncologists-mammologists. The narrow specialization of the service will allow for more detailed and comprehensive diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of various breast diseases.

– Malignant breast tumors develop over several years and are often detected in advanced stages. This problem is being tackled worldwide, – emphasizes oncologist-surgeon Sergey Konoplev. – Given that the institution has the main diagnostic methods for the disease, namely X-ray and electroimpedance mammography, and ultrasound examinations using high-expert class equipment, the mammology center was established on its basis. Its task is to detect cancer in the early stages, when organ-preserving surgery can be performed without resorting to radiation and chemotherapy, thus preserving the life and quality of life of each patient.

Approximately 20 people pass through the mammology center daily, including both women and men. It turns out that malignant and other breast neoplasms also occur in men, although this phenomenon is considered quite rare.

Currently, mammologists receive Vitebsk residents, with the main flow coming from city polyclinics with which close cooperation has been established. In the future, an expansion of the staff of specialists is expected to receive more people. In addition, soon these and other procedures will become available to rural residents as well, who will not necessarily have to travel to the northern capital.

According to Vladimir Orekhva, chief physician of the regional diagnostic center, the institution plans to acquire a mobile medical complex, which will include an ultrasound machine, a mammography X-ray machine, a gynecology office, a laboratory, and a registration desk. A similar outreach program is in place with colleagues in Mogilev and has proven effective, with numerous pathologies detected at early stages. Specialists will travel not only to major cities in the region but also to district centers. This will allow for the examination of the largest number of villagers at the regional level in a single day.

And these are not the last innovations that will soon be added to the diagnostic center's material and technical base. A modern, world-class magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner will be acquired. It will replace the old one, which was once the first in the Vitebsk region. The diagnostic capacity of the new device is three times greater than the previous installation, providing significantly improved imaging and, consequently, allowing for higher quality examinations.

Natalia Ryzhkova, "Vitebskiye Vesti"