Newsroom Toronto, May 25, 2009 — North York General Hospital today announced a generous gift from Charlotte and Lewis Steinberg, ensuring patients will have access to the most advanced mammography technology available. This state-of-the-art digital mammography with tomosynthesis technology is the latest innovation in breast cancer screening and diagnosis, improving the chances for early detection and identifying breast cancer tumours as small as a few millimetres. "We are excited to add this technology to our diagnostic capabilities,"
said Having been approved for use in Canada in March 2009, North York General Hospital is the first Ontario hospital to purchase digital mammography machines with tomosynthesis, which offer improved tumour detection in younger patients and/or patients with dense breasts. The machines are a state-of-the-art Hologic Selenia Dimensions system. Digital mammography with tomosynthesis complements standard mammograms and digital mammograms as an important tumour diagnostic tool. Research shows the potential benefits to patients include fewer unnecessary biopsies, fewer recalls and faster, more accurate diagnoses. "This technology is an important step forward in helping to improve early detection of breast tumours, which in turn will help improve quality of care," said Mr. Steinberg. "We are delighted to be able to support North York General Hospital's breast cancer services in this way." With this $2 million gift securing the purchase of three digital mammography machines - two with tomosynthesis imaging technology and one with biopsy capability - the Steinbergs are now the largest individual philanthropic donors in North York General Hospital's history. "In these turbulent economic times, the Steinbergs' generosity inspires us all to embrace the health of our community," said Charles E. Beall, Chair, North York General Hospital Foundation, Board of Governors. Tomosynthesis is a cutting-edge technology that takes multiple angled
low-dose images of the patient's breast in an arc pattern, which are
then reconstructed into a series of up to one hundred thin (one millimetre)
high resolution slices that can be displayed dynamically, creating a
three-dimensional effect. This approach eliminates tissue overlap and
noise found in currently employed digital and traditional mammography. "We are deeply grateful for the continued support and exceptional generosity of Charlotte and Lewis Steinberg," said Bonnie Adamson, President and CEO, North York General Hospital. "Our staff are committed to providing the highest level of care to our patients and their families - this new technology will further enhance our ability to offer superior breast cancer screening and diagnosis." The three digital mammography machines, two with tomosynthesis capability, will be operational by fall 2009. This additional imaging technique will improve diagnosis and detection of breast cancer for all of North York General Hospital's patients referred to the hospital for assessment, which, last year, totalled almost 9,000 people. This includes patients referred by their family physician for routine screening, patients referred through the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) at the hospital's Branson Site, as well as those referred for a diagnostic assessment, encompassing patients referred to the BMO Financial Group Breast Diagnostic Centre, which opened at the hospital's General Site in 1997. This centre was one of Canada's first centres for rapid assessment breast patients, offering a multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis of breast cancer. The Steinbergs have a long history with North York General Hospital, and have supported many important programs at the hospital, including the Charlotte and Lewis Steinberg Emergency Department, the Genetics program and providing funding for the breast services' first sentinel node machines. Thanks to the Steinbergs' generosity, North York General Hospital has enhanced ability to purchase cutting-edge equipment and offer treatment options well ahead of other Ontario hospitals. In recognition of the Steinbergs' gift, North York General Hospital's Breast Services will be named Karen, Heather and Lynn Steinberg Breast Services.
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