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EPIC IMAGING ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION OF BREAKTHROUGH TECHNOLOGY FOR BREAST CANCER SCREENING

Portland, OR, September 27, 2000--EPIC Imaging once again has taken a leadership role in bringing leading edge technology to the Northwest with the acquisition of the first digital mammography machines to receive FDA approval. "We've waited for this technology for 10 years. It's a whole new way of looking at breast imaging," said Dr. Gerald Warnock, Medical Director of EPIC Imaging.

The Senographe 2000D was developed by GE Medical Systems in close partnership with numerous federal agencies including the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Like standard mammography, digital mammography uses x-rays to produce images of the breast. However, instead of projecting the images onto film using x-ray cassettes like standard mammography, breakthrough digital technology captures the breast image directly onto a computer monitor. Once there, we can enhance the image with the power of digital technology for a better view of possible abnormalities. This happens within ten seconds of exposure, virtually in real time.

"Women are spared those uncomfortable moments waiting for film to be developed while we make sure we have the correct position. With digital, we know in seconds. The exam is at least twice as fast, possibly more," said Dr. Warnock.

The benefit of image enhancement is significant in the detection of early cancers. Other benefits include: reduced radiation dosage, faster image acquisition, shorter exam time, easier image storage, and the potential for telemammography-or the transmittal of images over phone lines or a network.

"From a radiologist's perspective, the real power of digital mammography lies in our ability to manipulate and enhance the digital image," continued Dr. Warnock. "With film, if we need another view or see a possible problem, the patient must be called back. This is a very anxious moment for most women. Digital should eliminate most of these call backs."

The Senographe 2000D has several key image and display features:

Tissue Equalization: A special process compensates for varying breast tissue densities to display detail of the entire breast from the chest wall all the way to the skin line.

Magnification: The system has 3 different magnification modes. Electronic zoom magnifies the entire image. The magnification glass magnifies a specific area in real time. True geometric magnifications are possible with a removable grid.

Image Inversion: Inverts a black and white display to white and black. This allows the radiologist to see subtle microcalcifications in a new way hopefully leading to earlier diagnosis.

Windowing Leveling: The dynamic range of digital is significantly better than film. The radiologist can see more shades of gray and pan through the images to see subtleties.

Annotations & Measurements: The workstation enables electronic annotation and accurate measurement tools.

Also exciting is the ability of the computer to act as a second set of eyes for the radiologist. Computer aided detection is in essence a second reading by a computer to increase the cancer detection rate. It can also be used as a second opinion to estimate the likelihood of a malignancy.

"This technology is the most important advance in mammography in 20 years," said EPIC Managing Partner, Bill Dunlap. "We felt it was so clearly the future of breast cancer screening, we committed to a unit for both our Beaverton and our Portland facilities. We hope others follow suit but it could be a tough financial sell for many. The machines cost over half a million dollars each and mammography has never been a profit center. But EPIC has a long-standing commitment to women's health issues. That's the priority."

EPIC's recent acquisition comes in a long line of firsts for the company. In 1982, EPIC acquired the first non hospital-based CT scanner and one of the first spiral CT scanners in the area in 1994. EPIC acquired their first MRI scanner in 1984 and operated it for nearly a year before any local hospital even purchased a scanner. Earlier this year, EPIC became the first in Oregon to offer a dedicated PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scanner. And it is only fitting that EPIC is the first to acquire digital mammography technology since the company was the first facility in the Portland-metropolitan region to receive certification from the American College of Radiology in mammography.

EPIC Imaging is the leading, full-service, outpatient imaging resource serving Oregon and Southwest Washington. Our family of centers consists of EPIC Imaging|East, EPIC Imaging|West, EPIC Imaging|ENT and The Portland P|E|T Center which houses the first dedicated Positron Emission Technology (PET) scanner in the region.

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