Spire Bushey Hospital introduces new mammogram technology to improve breast cancer detection
21 November 2025
Spire Bushey Hospital has expanded its breast imaging services by introducing Contrast Enhanced Mammography (CEM), a cutting-edge diagnostic tool aimed at improving the detection and characterisation of breast abnormalities.1 The service now forms part of the hospital’s best in class cancer services, with its dedicated treatment base, Elstree Cancer Centre, recently awarded a five star rating by Macmillan Cancer Support.
CEM is an advanced imaging technique which utilises a contrast agent to highlight areas of increased blood supply which can be indicative of malignancy, providing radiologists with more detailed information compared to standard mammograms. Studies have shown that CEM can be particularly useful in identifying lesions that are not otherwise visible through imaging, thereby facilitating earlier diagnosis and treatment.3
This new technique is of particular benefit to younger women with denser breast tissue, which can be less sensitive to traditional mammography. With data from Cancer Research UK showing an increase of 24% in cancer rates in 25 to 39-year-olds in the UK between 1995 and 2019 and breast cancer accounting for 43% of all cancers diagnosed in women aged 25 to 49, the introduction of CEM is both timely and vital. The addition of CEM complements Spire Bushey Hospital's existing one-stop breast clinic, which offers rapid assessment and diagnosis of breast concerns.
Mr Muhamed Al-Dubaisi, Consultant Breast Surgeon at Spire Bushey Hospital said: “The introduction of Contrast Enhanced Mammography at Spire Bushey is a fantastic step forward for the breast service. It offers greater clarity in diagnosing abnormalities and allows us to make quicker, more confident decisions about patient care. We welcome the addition of this to our diagnostic toolkit and its benefits to our patients.”
Julia Salmon, Hospital Director at Spire Bushey Hospital, said: “At Spire Bushey Hospital, we are committed to ensuring our patients have fast access to diagnosis and outstanding personalised treatment when they need it. Investing in new patient-friendly facilities and the latest technology helps us to deliver the level of care people have come to expect from a Spire hospital.
We know that coming in for a breast scan can be a worrying time for people. But, knowing they can be seen quickly, be scanned by the latest technology available, and then receive a quick diagnosis – this is what people need and we’re pleased to be delivering that.”
For more information about the mammogram service at Spire Bushey Hospital, please click here.
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