Contrast-Enhanced Mammography More Accessible in Liguria: A Breakthrough in the Early Diagnosis of Breast Cancer
The Liguria Region has unanimously approved a proposal aimed at making contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM) more accessible. This advanced diagnostic practice can improve the early detection of breast cancer, particularly in women with dense breast tissue or those at high oncological risk.
The initiative includes evaluating the inclusion of contrast-enhanced mammography among the services provided or reimbursed by the Regional Health Service. This represents an important step toward strengthening prevention, improving diagnostic effectiveness, and ensuring more equitable access to care for women in Liguria.
Contrast-Enhanced Mammography in Liguria: A Breakthrough in the Early Diagnosis of Breast Cancer
Prevention, both primary and secondary, remains the most effective weapon against breast cancer. Moving in this direction, the Liguria Region has recently approved a unanimous motion aimed at making contrast-enhanced mammography (Contrast Enhanced Mammography, CEM) more accessible. This advanced diagnostic method can help detect the disease at an earlier stage.
The initiative commits the regional government to evaluating the introduction of contrast-enhanced mammography among the services provided or reimbursed by the Regional Health Service for women with specific clinical indications. These include patients with dense breast tissue, a high risk of cancer, or particularly complex diagnostic situations.
What Is Contrast-Enhanced Mammography and What Are Its Benefits?
Contrast-enhanced mammography is a diagnostic technique that improves the accuracy of traditional breast imaging examinations. By using a contrast agent administered intravenously, radiologists can identify suspicious lesions more precisely, increasing the likelihood of detecting tumors that may be less visible through conventional imaging methods.
This approach is particularly effective for women with dense breast tissue, a condition that can make abnormalities more difficult to identify using standard mammography. The technique is also considered valuable for high-risk patients and in cases where diagnostic findings are unclear or inconclusive.
Breast Cancer in Liguria: Prevention by the Numbers
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. Approximately 1,600 new cases are diagnosed each year and, according to estimates, one in eight women will develop the disease during their lifetime. However, when diagnosed in its early stages, recovery rates exceed 90%, confirming the importance of effective and timely screening programs.
Despite this, participation in mammography screening programs in the Liguria Region stands at 52.5%, below the national average of 55.4%. For this reason, Liguria has been working for several years to strengthen prevention initiatives and expand the range of diagnostic tools available within healthcare facilities.
The Next Steps for the Liguria Region
The approval of the motion represents only the first step in a broader process. The Region must now assess, through its healthcare institutions and the relevant commission, the organizational and economic sustainability of extending contrast-enhanced mammography throughout the Ligurian breast care network.
A regional study is also planned to establish shared prescribing and usage criteria for the technique. Breast Units and centers of excellence specializing in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment will be involved to ensure clear, appropriate, and accessible care pathways for patients who may benefit most from this technology.
Greater Attention to Women’s Health
The decision made by the Regional Council demonstrates a growing commitment to women’s health and cancer prevention. Investing in tools that improve early diagnosis means increasing the chances of recovery, reducing the impact of the disease, and providing women with more effective and personalized treatment pathways.
If fully implemented, contrast-enhanced mammography could become an important ally in the fight against breast cancer, helping to make prevention more accurate, accessible, and responsive to the needs of women across Liguria.