The Metropolitan Hospital’s Breast and Women’s Center, with director-coordinator Mr Breast Surgeon & Associate Professor of the University of Nicosia, Mr. Vasilios Venizelosconstitutes from March 2024, the first and only Breast Unit in Greece which holds the EUSOMA certification.

The internationally recognized distinction “Breast Centers Certification”, from the European Society of Breast Cancer (EUSOMA), certifies that the Metropolitan Hospital in Faliro operates in accordance with the high quality standards and services defined by the European Society of Breast Cancer Specialists for the treatment of the diseases of breast.

A group process

The European Society of Mammology (EUSOMA), is a non-profit organization that defines the criteria that must be met by breast units across Europe, in order to certify in practice the provision of top patient-centered services.

The conditions required by EUSOMA do not only apply to the Breast Surgery Clinic, but also to Pathologists-Oncologists, Pathologists, Breast Radiologists, Radiation Therapists-Oncologists, Breast Specialist Nurses, Psychologists, Physiotherapists and in general to all specialties and the departments dealing with the treatment of breast diseases.

Obtaining certification from EUSOMA requires a long-term process that includes the implementation of various conditions. EUSOMA’s Audit Team, made up of doctors of all specialties, carries out on-site audits to confirm that the following prerequisites are met:

• Proven number of at least 150 new cases of malignancy each year
• Operation of a statutory Breast Unit
• Operation of a statutory Oncology Council
• Day hospitalization for chemotherapy
• Use of modern radiotherapy machines and protocols
• Operation of modern pathological-anatomical laboratories
• Specialized nursing staff
• Specialized physical therapists and psychologists
• Specialized Genetic Counseling clinic

This important certification refers to the recognition of the Interdisciplinary Breast Center of the Metropolitan Hospital in Neo Faliro for the excellent, integrated and personalized services it offers, for the high-level surgical operations, for the experienced team that is equal abroad, the application of cutting-edge technology as well as the offering pioneering treatments.

Cooperation of the specialties for the optimal treatment of patients

“We are proud of the Interdisciplinary Breast Center at Metropolitan Hospital, which this year completes 10 years of operation and responsible service to patients. We are proud of our team of doctors, who work with great dedication. We are proud of the distinctions and awards we have acquired in this decade and the fact that patients are not taken to the operating room, except when it is really necessary,” said dr Vasilios Venizelos, Director-Coordinator of the Breast and Women’s Center of the Metropolitan Hospital & Associate Professor of the University of Nicosia and added:

“The recent international recognition certifies our operation in accordance with the international standards set by the European Society of Breast Cancer Specialists, proving in practice the quality of integrated services for breast health, contributing to women’s health.”

OR Dr. Maroulio Stathoulopoulou, Director Breast Surgeonsaid: “It has been shown by many international studies that women who are treated in organized breast units have the best prognosis and the best treatment for their disease. Having received this certification from EUSOMA we can offer the best possible services to all these women who honor us with their trust in such a serious moment.”

“The EUSOMA certification for the Breast Department of our hospital ensures the application of the best clinical practices to oncology patients and ensures that they will receive the best possible treatment” emphasized Dr. Christos Christodoulou, Director of the Second Oncology Clinic.

From the side of Dr. Epaminondas Samandas, Director of the Second Oncology Cliniche added: “The certification is an important achievement mainly because it provides the possibility for the collaborating specialties to make joint decisions and all of them to be certified through a completely transparent and controlled process.”

“We are very proud of the EUSOMA certification received by the Breast Center and by extension the 4th Oncology Clinic and the Model Center for Clinical Studies”, added Dr. Eleni Linardou, Director of the 4th Oncology Clinic, Pathologist-Oncologistadding that “in this way, the provision of the highest level of services in our Hospital is emphasized, which are evaluated at regular intervals, through certification and ensure the cooperation of the specialties and ultimately the optimal treatment of our patients”.

“The certification of the European Society of Mammology is very important for our pathology department” said Mr Dr. Vassilios Petrou, Pathologist “because it is the culmination of a long-term effort by everyone, under the direction of Mrs. Kalliopi Petrakis, to implement correct practices in accordance with international standards for the proper management of histological material for the benefit of patients”.

THE Dr. Athanasios Dimopoulos, Director Coordinator of the Radiation Oncology Department pointed out: “Radiotherapy delivery consists of many small steps, which in the end lead to the whole treatment. And certification by a major international organization means for us and for our patient that we will provide him with the best quality of treatment.”

“EUSOMA’s certification is the seal of all the efforts that have been made over the years in order to offer the best services to our patients”, emphasized Dr. Konstantinos Syrgiannis, Director of the Breast Imaging Department.

“The EUSOMA certification for breast imaging and more specifically for specialized imaging with magnetic resonance imaging, the so-called multiparametric breast study, indicates that our Center is qualified to perform these specialized examinations with the seal of an international organization” noted Dr. Kalliopi Varaki, Director of the Department of Radiology.

“Certification for our Department is important”, she emphasized Dr. Anna Vrettou, Director of Breast Radiology “because above all it is fair, it is a reward for the work we do in the Breast Unit which has all the scientific and technological training and meets all the conditions for how a Breast Unit should work. We are very proud!”

THE Dr. Dimitris Antonopoulos, Plastic Surgeon, Associate of the Breast Unit added: “EUSOMA’s certification seals and is the culmination of the overall effort made over the last 10 years in the field of oncoplastic surgery and breast reconstruction after mastectomy in our patients.”

“The certification of EUSOMA ensures that the organized breast unit maintains the international standards of care and the guidelines for the treatment of our patients. As plastic surgeons, we must follow the appropriate algorithm in these women to ensure proper healing and breast reconstruction,” explained Dr. Andreas Gravanis, Director of the Plastic Surgery Unit.

OR Dr. Maria Matiatou, Breast Surgeon, EUSOMA Procedure Certification Manager said: “This specific European certification for the surgical department confirms that the surgical services we provide to our patients are based on international standards.”

“For us, it is a reward for our hard work and at the same time it is also the springboard to be able to continue with even greater momentum and more appetite in dealing with these difficult diseases” underlined Dr. Vasilios Trigas, Breast Surgeon, Breast Surgery Clinic.

Finally the Ms. Evangelia Marousopoulou, Breast Nurse, Breast Center Manager added: “The EUSOMA certification confirms the dedication and support of all women with breast problems by the nursing staff.”

Innovation and Cutting Edge Technology

The Breast and Women’s Unit at the Metropolitan Hospital in Faliro has been, since 2014, a leading unit for the monitoring, diagnosis and treatment of diseases related exclusively to the breast.

At the “One Stop Breast clinic” women undergo an imaging check of the breasts (Digital Mammography, Tomosynthesis, High Definition Ultrasound, elastography), as well as a clinical examination by a specialized Mammologist, while whenever it is deemed appropriate, the lesion can be immediately identified with a biopsy with a cutting needle (Core Biopsy) under local anesthesia and extraction of results even on the same day, where deemed necessary.

He has been repeatedly awarded for the innovative methods he applies in diagnosis and treatment and one of them is the stereotactic biopsy for the diagnosis of suspected microcalcifications. With this method, 85% of patients avoid unnecessary operations.

For the last 10 years, the Breast Unit has been a pioneer in breast reconstruction after mastectomy in a single surgery, having the largest number of reconstructions nationwide and using all modern immediate reconstruction techniques.

This is done with state-of-the-art implants or autologous grafts (e.g. free abdominal flap) always with oncological safety in mind, with an individualized method for each patient, so that the final result is the best possible aesthetic.

At Metropolitan Hospital, women can feel safe because there is an interdisciplinary team that provides the appropriate services, which have been checked and certified by the European Society of Mammology (EUSOMA) based on international requirements, making the Breast Unit a point of reference in our country.

*The Breast Center is located at the Metropolitan Hospital Ethnarchou Makariou 9 & El. Venizelou 1 in Neo Faliro.