2nd Day in Haiti Focuses on Breast Imaging

The second day of radiology resident training was focused on breast imaging, an area of great need in Haiti.  Residents were treated to a half-day didactic session given by Julie Franz, M.D. of Northwestern University in Chicago. Dr. Franz and Lacy Gandor, RDMS worked individually with the residents on proper technique, diagnostic identification, measurement and biopsy of artifacts provided in chicken breasts. This simulation is critical in helping prepare residents for scanning and diagnostic purposes.

Radiology residents at the University Hospital anxiously await a presentation by Julie Franz, M.D. Dr. Franz began an in-depth introduction to breast imaging for the residents on Day 2. While breast imaging currently is not available in the existing University Hospital (and there are just a couple of units in the country), plans for the new hospital include mammography. Students will need to become familiar with the technology. Dr. Franz noted that breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among Haiti’s women. 

 

Dr. Franz provides didactic lectures on mammography to a very interested group of radiology residents. Some residents are hoping to establish women’s imaging in Haiti in the future.

 

Lacy Gandor, RDMS provides proper ultrasound technique for imaging the breast. Chicken breasts were pitted with artifacts (olives) for both identification and biopsy purposes during this hands-on session.

Dr. Franz provides proper use of the transducer for diagnostic purposes on chicken breasts.  The ultrasound devices were generously provided by Sonosite as part of its ongoing loaner program for teaching purposes in low resource countries.

 

Radiology residents from the University Hospital take their turn scanning chicken breasts simulating the use for ultrasound in breast imaging.

The highlight of the second day was the opportunity to identify and biopsy artifacts inserted into the chicken breasts.  The residents proved adept in their technique while the embedded olives were systematically removed via biopsy.