About the Department of Mammology at Rambam Health Care Campus Haifa
The Department of Mammology at the Rambam Health Care Campus Haifa offers the prevention, diagnostics and treatment of the full range of breast diseases using the very latest medical technologies. The department specializes in the treatment of breast cancer and postoperative microsurgical reconstruction. The patients can benefit from a multidisciplinary team of doctors, which consists of surgeons, plastic surgeons, oncologists, radiologists, etc. Thus, the department provides the most accurate diagnostics and comprehensive approach to treatment, which helps the doctors to achieve the best therapeutic results. The Chief Physician of the department is Dr. med. Aviad Hoffman.
The initial consultation and clinical examination are carried out by a team of surgeons specializing in breast cancer. The experienced radiologists are responsible for imaging diagnostics using advanced technologies, including digital mammography, ultrasound scanning and MRI. In addition, CT- or MRI-guided biopsy can also be performed, if necessary.
The obtained diagnostic results are discussed at weekly tumor boards. Should the surgical treatment be indicated, the department's surgeons can use the whole range of techniques, including organ-preserving operations using oncoplastic techniques, sentinel lymph node biopsy, axillary lymph node dissection, etc. If necessary, Margin Probe technology can be used during a lumpectomy, which allows the doctors to preserve healthy breast tissue and completely remove tumor cells. Also, with the appropriate indications, the doctors can use other innovative technologie, such as partial intraoperative breast irradiation.
The department is one of the leading Breast Reconstruction Centers. It performs surgeries for immediate and delayed breast reconstruction weekly. As a rule, microsurgical interventions are performed using the patient's own tissues and allow the doctors to abandon silicone implants.
The department actively cooperates with the Israel Cancer Association and is engaged in the further improvement of treatment methods by carrying out a large number of clinical trials.
The department's range of medical services includes:
- Diagnostics
- Digital mammography
- Ultrasound examinations
- Computed tomography
- Magnetic resonance imaging
- Ultrasound- and MRI-guided biopsy
- Conservative treatment methods
- Chemotherapy, hormonal and immunotherapy
- Radiation therapy, including intraoperative irradiation
- Surgical treatment techniques
- Organ-preserving operations
- Lumpectomy using Margin Probe technology
- Sentinel lymph node removal, axillary lymph node dissection
- Reconstruction using the patient's own tissues
- Flap surgery
- Other microsurgical techniques
- Additional services
- Second opinion on all issues concerning breast diseases
- Interdisciplinary tumor boards
- Supportive therapy
- Psycho-oncological care
- Other therapeutic methods
Curriculum vitae
Dr. med. Aviad Hoffman is the Head of the Department of Mammology at the Rambam Health Care Campus Haifa. He is also in charge of the Peritoneal Surface Malignancies Program.
Dr. Hoffman received his doctorate from the Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine in 2000. This was followed by an internship and residency in General Surgery at the Sheba Medical Center, Israel. As part of his residency, the doctor participated in the PGY3 program at the Department of General Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. This was followed by a one-year internship in Surgery at the Surgical Oncology Research Laboratory, Department of Surgery, Columbia University Medical Center in New York. After completing his residency, Dr. Hoffman had a three-year internship at MD Anderson Cancer Center, Texas, USA where the first two years were dedicated to liposarcoma research followed by a one-year clinical fellowship in Surgical Oncology. From 2013 to 2018, Dr. Hoffman was an Attending Surgeon in the Department of Surgery at the Sheba Medical Center. He specializes in the treatment of peritoneal surface malignancies and breast cancer.
Photo of the doctor: (c) Rambam Health Care Campus Haifa