DIAGNOSING breast cancer at Derriford Hospital will be even more accurate for West Devon patients, as a result of a new technique and upgraded technology that allows breast imagers to see more clearly into the breast tissue.

Paid for by The Primrose Foundation and sponsorship from Siemens, The Primrose Breast Care Centre will be one of the first in the country to install the digital breast tomosythesis upgrade to one of the Siemens Mammomat Inspiration x-ray machines.

Tomosynthesis is a three-dimensional imaging technique that provides an arbitrary set of reconstructed images in the breast which form a 3D data set of the entire breast volume.

Dr Gareth Porter, consultant radiologist and clinical director of imaging, said: 'We are pleased to be one of the first trusts to support this new technology, which will help us to improve the quality of the service we provide to our patients at a time we recognise can be very stressful.

'Without the support of the Primrose Foundation, we would not be in the fortunate position to develop the clinical research that will help shape future clinical practice, further improving the care of women with breast problems.'