[Experience with virtual sonography of the breast].

Objective: To assess the capabilities of and the first experience with an ACUSON S2000 automated breast volume scanner (ABVS) (Siemens, Germany) to detect abnormal breast lumps.

Material And Methods: Examinations were made in 97 patients who underwent radiological studies encompassing digital mammography, B-mode ultrasonography of the breast, and its pathomorphological examination. All the cases were classified according to the BI-RADS system.

[An analysis of the technical equipping of the X-ray mammography service in the Russian Federation during 2001-2002].

The condition of total X-ray mammography equipment in the Russian Federation is analyzed in the paper. A method for assessing the needs in such equipment is described. The conclusion is that 1800 mammographs would satisfy the needs in equipment for mammary-gland screening within the Russian Federation, while only 700 units are now in use.

[Specific features of organizing mammography services].

The organizational features of general-purpose mammographic room, as well as specialized and X-ray operating room are outlined.

[The technical support of mammography].

The paper deals with the basic elements of up-to-date hardware for mammography, which determine the quality of X-ray diagnosis of breast diseases. With small-dose dosages, highly-informative images can be obtained by both perfect equipment and image visualization means, including intensifying screens and films, cassettes that measure respective exposures, absorbed doses and check up the conclusions made while analyzing clinical cases. Recommendations are given for choosing a screen-film system and cassettes of various firms and working conditions of photo laboratories in mammographic rooms by taking into account the specific features of manual and automatic film development.