The Athens Euroclinic is equipped with the latest medical technology. Keeping patient safety in mind, it offers proper and comprehensive diagnosis by specialist physicians.

Due to the features of its state-of-the-art equipment, the Athens Euroclinic is ranked among the leading hospitals in Europe.

The hospital is specifically equipped with the following:

• The first 128-slice CT scanner by Toshiba to be installed in Greece and the third such scanner in Europe
• Real-time imaging and volumetric programs and minimum radiation doses for patients
• Minimal exam duration (10-30 seconds)
• Reduced radiation doses
• Special features for children undergoing a CT scan, as it can be adjusted to deliver the lowest possible radiation dose (pediatric package)
• Electronic image storage that allows image reproduction if requested by the attending physician or the patient
• Full cardiac function examination

Apart from conventional imaging scans, it may also perform:

• CT coronary angiography
• Pulmonary angiography
• Cerebral, carotid and lower limb angiography
• Aortic angiography, splenoportography, etc.
• Upper and lower limb venography
• Superior and inferior vena cava venography
• Virtual endoscopy (colonoscopy, bronchoscopy, etc)
• Dental imaging for dental implant placement

All mammography scans are performed using the Selenia Dimensions Digital Mammography System, manufactured by US company Hologic. The company has a 70% market share in the USA and Canada and about 53% globally, while it has received Frost & Sullivan’s Technology Leadership Award.
The Selenia Mammography System features innovative and patented technology, such as:

• Low-dose amorphous selenium flat-panel detector for direct digital conversion. Specifically, Hologic, an innovator in the area of digital mammography, uses a digital amorphous selenium detector (a-Se semiconductor) for direct conversion of X-rays to a digital signal for preservation of image sharpness, without intermediate energy conversion loss and with the smallest pixel available in the market, just at 70μm.
  Selenia’s digital detector utilizes direct conversion technology, so X-rays are absorbed by the amorphous selenium, and negative and positive electrical charges are directly generated. Under the influence of an external electrical field, the electrical charges are pulled directly towards a pixel electrode and collected on a pixel capacitor.
  Because the electrical charges travel along electrical field lines, there is no lateral movement of the charge and no diffusion across pixels. The result is an exceptionally sharp digital image.
  On the contrary, detectors by other manufacturers are based on scintillating crystals and intermediate energy conversion techniques. The X-rays are initially converted to visible light and then to electronic signal. So visible light diffuses laterally across a large distance, resulting in reduced image quality and sharpness and loss of tissue contrast, which is very important when assessing a mammography scan.
• The innovative and patented High Transmission Cellular (HTC) Grid Bucky has been specially designed to offer the best possible image quality. The Buckies of other manufacturers use linear grids that remove scattered radiation only in one direction, while because of the intersepta material, this grid absorbs less of the useful primary beam. On the other hand, the HTC Bucky by Lorad absorbs scattered radiation in two directions, while the absorption of the primary beam increases significantly. This is achieved due to the special cellular structure of the grid and the fact that it uses air as the intersepta material and not any other material that would prevent X-ray scatter, as is the case with conventional grids.
• The Selenia Mammography System incorporates a Fully-Automatic Self-Adjusting Tilt (FAST) Paddle. The Paddle automatically adjusts to the natural contour of the breast, providing more uniform compression. The FAST Compression Paddle is especially useful where there is disproportionate thickness at the chest wall compared to the anterior of the breast. By automatically conforming to the natural contour of the breast, the image quality remains the best possible across the entire breast.
• It has an innovative tungsten tube with rhodium and silver filters, which allows for at least 30% dose reductions compared to the conventional molybdenum tubes.
• It has a Bi-angular tube that ensures the anode is at a different angle to the vertical for each focal spot, offering even imaging throughout the whole field both for conventional and for magnifying views. The X-ray tube angle is 6ο, while the large focal spot angle is 16ο and the small focal spot 10ο, creating a 22ο angle at the large focal spot and a 16ο one at the small focal spot in total.

The Selenia line has received Frost & Sullivan’s Market Leadership and Product Line Strategy Awards for its technological superiority in the area of digital mammography, while it has also received two Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards.

Other awards received by manufacturer Hologic for its innovative technology include:

• Telly Award
• Medical Marketing and Media (MM&M) Award
• Deloitte’s Fast Technology 500
• Top 10 Medical Innovations

The indisputable superiority of Selenia against other digital mammography systems is further proved by the fact that it has been certified by the European Reference Organization (EUREF). The Selenia Dimensions Digital Mammography System has received the EUREF “Mammographic Type Test” certification. This certification ensures that the system has passed a rigorous series of physics and clinical tests, demonstrating that it meets the image quality, radiation exposure and stability standards set by EUREF, while it is harder to obtain than the CE mark certification.

The highest percentage of women, almost 80%, in whom suspect findings have been detected following a mammography scan are taken to surgery. This could be avoided with suitable biopsy systems, as is the case in most advanced countries, given that the current trend in Medicine is minimally invasive access.

Women often undergo needless surgical procedures which involve general anesthesia and several days hospitalization just on suspicion of cancer. In addition, women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer often have to undergo two surgical procedures: one to perform the biopsy and another to completely remove the tumor and the lymph nodes.

Unnecessary breast surgery can be avoided when using a special biopsy table. Coupled with a mammotome, it can be used to perform bloodless diagnostic procedures and vacuum-assisted removal of the suspect finding. The patient may immediately return home, without having experienced the hassles of surgery. The biopsy results will then determine whether the suspect breast lesion needs to be surgically removed.

The biopsy table offers an ideal solution for breast biopsies, as it is a comprehensive and independent system, complete with X-ray tube, digital detector, digital system for exact stereotactic location of the suspect area coordinates on three planes, and console with monitor.

Specifically, the MultiCare Platinum table provides true 360-degree access to the breast and the spot being examined. It has a high patient weight limit (135 kg), large motorized height range of 102-145cm, intuitive Cartesian coordinate system calculation through Windows ensuring accurate targeting of ±1mm, X-ray tube with a heat capacity of 300,000 HU and a tube potential of 22kV-34kV / 3-400mAs, CCD sensor, 14-bit digitizing resolution, 9-10 lp/mm spatial resolution, 5.5 cm x 5.5 cm tissue image area and special comfort accessories (2 gel pads, arm sling, filler panel, foam cushion).

The biopsy table constitutes the ideal system for any contemporary breast center. This is because in the stereotactic biopsies performed using a mammography system, the patient is placed in the upright position or on the side, which is not well tolerated (unfortunately patients are usually able to watch the whole procedure) and often leads to fainting episodes.

However, with the biopsy table, the patient is placed in the prone position and the breast is inserted through a special opening on the table. This limits the risk of accidental movements during the biopsy and allows the physician 360-degree access to the breast. So the biopsy is performed in a contemporary and civilized manner, the patient may return home immediately and unnecessary breast surgery is avoided (Note that the mammography stereotactic biopsy system is often used just for placing guidewires and not for performing biopsies due to its limited functionality).

The biopsy table is compatible with a special vacuum-assisted biopsy device, known as a mammotome, for tissue acquisition.

Specifically, the Hologic ATEC system is a clinically advanced vacuum-assisted breast biopsy system that has been approved by the FDA and has been designed for use under stereotactic and 3D image guidance. It is the most efficient system worldwide as it offers a fast, safe, convenient and clinically superior breast biopsy method.

The Hologic ATEC breast biopsy system is compatible with special biopsy needles that have been designed to access difficult to reach spots in women with fine and dense breast tissue. The smaller needles and larger inner cannula make it easier to collect large tissue samples in a minimally invasive procedure. The ATEC biopsy needles have been approved for partial or complete removal of visible benign tumors and mainly breast microcalcifications.

The ATEC biopsy needles utilize proprietary technology that ensures breakthroughs in patient safety, streamlined workflow, pain management, speedy tissue acquisition, sample collection and sample integrity.

These technologies include:

Fluid management
The Hologic ATEC is the only breast biopsy system that flushes the biopsy samples and the biopsy cavity with saline. The system is equipped with a handle and fully disposable tubing, ensuring patient safety, since it combines constant aspiration with saline lavage capabilities, reducing the potential of hematoma formation.

Biopsy site identification
It has two types of custom marker deployment systems, which are visible with any imaging modality. They are composed of biocompatible, implant grade titanium for optimal permanent visualization with no additives.

Reduced biopsy time and increased productivity
The system set-up and clean-up last just one minute, while tissue acquisition occurs in 4.5 seconds. Furthermore, the patented Y-valve delivers pain management automatically and continuously, bathing the biopsy site with a local anesthetic without interrupting the procedure, so the actual biopsy time lasts about one minute or less.

Accuracy
With a wide variety of needle choices, it is possible to perform biopsies in most clinical applications. The larger the tissue sample the better and more accurate the identification of the lesion.

The ATEC breast biopsy system stands out because of the following:

• Fast tissue acquisition of less than 5 seconds per sample.
• Pain management system that can deliver local anesthetic right to the biopsy site without interruption.
• Light and easy-to-use.
• Fully closed design that minimizes clean-up requirements.
• System simplicity which translates to quicker procedures and higher satisfaction for patients, without sacrificing diagnostic confidence.

All these systems have been developed by Hologic USA, a leading company in women’s healthcare, and are FDA-approved, which guarantees the clinical reliability of their technology. The Athens Euroclinic is one of the few centers in Greece to be equipped with this system. Coupled with the state-of-the-art Hologic Selenia Digital Mammography System, the Euroclinic boasts the latest technology in breast cancer treatment, offering comprehensive solutions in terms of diagnosis and procedures.

The system supports the full range of Interventional Cardiology procedures.

• It incorporates the latest Flat Detector technology for exceptional image quality, as well as Xper technology, so each user can customize their settings for automatic positioning and other system movements, ensuring user-friendly cardiac applications.
• It features DoseWise technology, an integrated dose management system (reduction up to 90%) for excellent image quality.
• It offers customized processing for digital fluoroscopy, image acquisition and visualization.
• It can perform rotational angiography/coronary angiography. This package offers a range of projections to create real-time, 3D impressions of complex vascular and coronary arteries.
• It can take multiple views with a single contrast injection due to the rotational biplane visualization of the area of interest.
• It is equipped with an advanced electrophysiology system that offers real-time image guidance for rotational scans.
• It produces an instant and enhanced view of the stent position and deployment.

The Allura Xper FD20 system is the latest Angiography Suite with ceiling suspension that covers a wide range of interventional vascular and diagnostic applications, including: brain, chest, heart, abdomen, peripheral vessels, non-invasive applications.

• It is equipped with the revolutionary ceiling suspended C-arm stand and the exclusive BodyGuard patient protection mechanism.
• It incorporates the latest Flat Detector technology for exceptional image quality.
• It boasts Xper technology, so each user can customize their settings for automatic positioning and other system movements, ensuring user-friendly imaging applications.
• It features DoseWise technology, an integrated dose management system (reduction up to 90%) for excellent image quality.
• It offers customized processing for digital fluoroscopy, image acquisition and visualization.

• It is equipped with a 90°/90° tilt table.
• It has controls and monitors both on the console and in the examination room.
• It features a 65kW generator for better images during radiography and fluoroscopy applications.
• It is fully digital.

It is a state-of-the-art robotic system that has brought the revolution in the field of laparoscopic and minimally invasive surgery. It consists of an ergonomically designed surgeon’s console, four robotic arms, a visualization tower and the Insite Vision system that provides real 3D images.

The Da Vinci® S robotic system allows surgeons to perform surgical procedures remotely, without coming into contact with the patient. It offers the flexibility of open surgery, but at the same time ensures success and multiple benefits both for the patient and the surgeon.

The 3D vision system offers up to 15x magnification of the operative field for very precise, stable and fine movements.

It also offers significant benefits to patients, such as:

• Surgical precision
• Shorter anesthesia time
• Minimal to zero blood loss
• Reduced risk of infection
• Minimal complications
• Minimal postoperative pain and discomfort
• Significantly shorter hospitalization
• Excellent aesthetic result
• Faster recovery and return to normal activities