Dubai, UAE - Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI), in partnership with Smit Mobile Equipment has introduced MicroDose, a new Philips full-field digital mammography (FFDM) solution, that was installed in their second mobile breast cancer screening vehicle, which is specifically adapted to the requirements of patients and healthcare providers in the Middle East. Smit Mobile Equipment is part of the Oshkosh Corporation and is a leader in mobile medical diagnostic units, mobile hospitals and mobile clinics. The mobile Philips MicroDose Mammography Unit was displayed at the recently concluded Arab Health 2012 show.

The occurrence of breast cancer is prevalent in the Middle East. Studies have shown that in Saudi Arabia, over 20 percent of total cancer cases are breast cancer#. The education of the need for preventative screening is growing, and medical professionals in the region are constantly searching for new ways to cope with the increasing need for early diagnosis of the disease.

In line with this, Philips has developed the 'SimplyHealthy Women' campaign that entails different initiatives, starting with the MicroDose Mammography Unit touring the region, performing breast screenings for early detection, as part of Philips' commitment to women's health and preventative care.

Mammography is the primary tool used to aid in the early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer. Philips is revolutionizing mammography by providing a more comfortable, relaxed and faster mammogram experience, with lower radiation exposure. Now, Philips MicroDose offers clinicians the ability to deliver high-quality breast images at up to a 50 percent reduction in dose as compared to other FFDM systems, without compromising clinical image quality. In fact, studies report clinicians using a significantly lower average radiation dose with the MicroDose solution than with other full FFDM systems#,#.

MicroDose is the only mammography system that uses X-ray photon-counting technology. Similar to light-emitting diode (LED) lighting which uses less wattage than traditional incandescent bulbs while providing high light output, the Philips MicroDose patented photon-counting detector utilizes less radiation while delivering excellent image quality. MicroDose is also designed to offer a less stressful mammography experience by providing curved support.

"Philips MicroDose Mammography addresses busy case volume by helping medical professionals perform as many as 15 four-image examinations per hour. Yet speed is never a substitute for quality", says Diederik Zeven - General Manager of Philips Healthcare Middle East.

"The robustness of the detector combined with features such as low dose, patient comfort, speed and image quality, make MicroDose Mammography the ideal solution for the mobile mammo unit", he adds.

Hospitals installing Philips MicroDose Mammography can now offer their patients the speed and convenience of a low-dose procedure that take less than five minutes. The curved breast support and easy single click operation can truly help them differentiate their services in the women's healthcare community.

Philips is committed to a comprehensive approach to women's health care, and MicroDose is part of the company's comprehensive portfolio of advanced diagnostic imaging and information management solutions for the entire breast cycle of care including ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography / computed tomography (PET/CT).