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MBC

Jul 17
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Mediterraneo Hospital 2000 - Mediterraneo Hospital: World First in Endoscopic Mastectomy Using the HandX® Robotic System

Mediterraneo Hospital: World First in Endoscopic Mastectomy Using the HandX® Robotic System

By MBC, PRESS RELEASES

PRESS RELEASE

Glyfada, 17th July 2025

 Mediterraneo Hospital: World First in Endoscopic Mastectomy Using the HandX® Robotic System

Mediterraneo Hospital announces the world’s first successful endoscopic mastectomy using the innovative HandX® robotic system, marking a new era in minimally invasive surgical treatment of breast cancer.

The pioneering procedure was performed by the Breast Clinic surgical team, led by Clinical Director Dr. Vasileios Kalles, in collaboration with Deputy Director Dr. Ioannis Papapanagiotou, Gynecologist – Breast Surgeon, and Dr. Apostolos Mitrousias, Breast Surgeon.

With an incision of only 3 centimeters, the technique allows for the simultaneous removal and reconstruction of the breast with exceptional precision, reducing surgical trauma and offering faster recovery and improved aesthetic results for the patient, compared to traditional mastectomy methods.

The HandX® system provides enhanced dexterity and control, enabling the safe and effective application of endoscopic mastectomy. This internationally pioneering procedure, performed for the first time at Mediterraneo Hospital, demonstrates the hospital’s commitment to innovation and to providing high-quality, personalized care.

Dr. Vasileios Kalles commented:
“We are proud to be at the forefront of surgical innovation. By combining endoscopic access with robotic precision, we are redefining the possibilities in breast cancer surgery. This new technique brings significant benefits to patients, and we are particularly pleased to offer such advanced surgical methods in Greece and at Mediterraneo Hospital’s Breast Clinic.”

This pioneering procedure reflects the Breast Clinic’s dedication to providing high-level services through an interdisciplinary approach and the integration of the most advanced techniques for breast cancer treatment and prevention.
At the same time, it serves as another example of Mediterraneo Hospital’s firm orientation towards technological innovation, driven by the commitment to place the patient at the center of care.

Jun 16
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alexandra nikita mediterraneo hospital - Breast MRI

Breast MRI

By IN THE NEWS, MBC, MRI

Dr. Alexandra Nikita, Consultant Breast Radiologist, Mediterraneo Hospital

Breast MRI is a high-resolution imaging test for the examination of breast structures and is performed in addition to a mammography and breast ultrasound. It is a short, completely painless and harmless diagnostic test, during which the examinee does not receive any radiation.

In which cases is breast MRI indicated?

Breast MRI does not replace a mammography or breast ultrasound but is a complementary tool used in the following cases:

  • Screening in women at high risk of developing breast cancer. This includes women with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer (mother or sister who developed breast cancer before the age of 50, or more than one close relatives, including those on the examinee’s father side, with a history of breast or ovarian cancer),
  • Women with BRCA1 (Breast Cancer Type 1 susceptibility gene) and BRCA2 (Breast Cancer Type 2 susceptibility gene) mutations and women with a history of chest radiation therapy at the age of 10-30 years old. In any case, your radiologist or breast surgeon will review your family history and determine if a breast magnetic resonance imaging is appropriate for you.
  • To further investigate equivocal mammography findings. In rare cases, if a lesion detected on a mammogram cannot be adequately evaluated by MRI-guided localization, tomography, or ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging is used to determine whether or not a biopsy is necessary,
  • To accurately determine the extent of the lesion in specific types of diagnosed cancer and exclude the presence of other foci in the same or the other breast, especially in dense breasts and in cases of young women with breast cancer. Breast MRI also investigates the possible presence of abnormal axillary lymph nodes,
  • In cases of a previous breast cancer surgery to investigate possible recurrence or development of new foci in the same or the other breast (method of choice),
  • To evaluate the mastectomy area after cancer treatment. Surgery scars and recurrent cancer may present some similarities on a mammogram and breast ultrasound. If a change in the mastectomy scar is detected, either via mammography or physical examination, magnetic resonance imaging can show if it is scar tissue or cancer recurrence,
  • To assess the response of the tumor to chemotherapy in cases where preoperative chemotherapy is necessary (neoadjuvant chemotherapy),
  • For the evaluation of breast implants and the investigation of their rupture.

mri mediterraneo hospital - Breast MRI

How is a breast MRI performed?

The examination is performed on an outpatient basis and lasts about 30′. The examinee is  placed in a prone position on the specially designed MRI scanner.

The comfort of the examinee during the whole process is important, because in that way she can remain calm and immobile for as long as necessary in order to complete the examination successfully.
The use of an intravenous contrast media (IV contrast) is necessary to investigate possible malignancy, because without it the examination presents insufficient results. If, however, the breast MRI is performed only to evaluate the breast implants, IV contrast is not required except in cases where inflammation in the area of the implant is investigated.

What are the disadvantages of a breast MRI?

The method has two main disadvantages: The first is the high rate of “false-positive” results, i.e. when the MRI reveals pathological findings that prove to be benign formations or areas of active glandular tissue. This is proven by a negative biopsy. The second disadvantage is the inability of the method to detect breast microcalcifications, suspicious for onset malignancy.