Breast Care Service

The hospital’s established reputation in delivering excellence in breast care management has been boosted even further with the installation at St Andrew’s Medical Imaging of the advanced Hologic Mammography Unit with 3D Tomosynthesis.

The 3D Tomosynthesis mammography unit, is the fastest, highest resolution breast tomosynthesis system ever and offers a variety of features designed to provide higher quality 3D images for radiologists, enhanced workflow for technologists, and a more comfortable mammography experience, with low-dose options, for patients. The system is designed to clearly reveal subtle lesions and fine calcifications to help pinpoint cancers early.

The St Andrew’s comprehensive mammography screening and diagnostics services include:

• Screening mammography with 3D Tomosynthesis 

• Diagnostic mammography with 3D Tomosynthesis 

• Stereotactic and Tomosynthesis guided biopsy (including Vacuum Assisted Core Biopsy)
• Breast ultrasound 

• Ultrasound guided breast fine needle aspiration and core biopsy 

• Pre-operative Tomosynthesis or ultrasound guided hookwire localisation
• 3T breast MRI with computer aided diagnosis. 


The team of specialist radiologists is led by Dr Darren Ault, Clinical Director of Radiology at St Andrew’s Medical Imaging and comprises Dr Nick Kienzle, Dr Barbara Laing, Dr Patty Connor and Dr Nick Brown.

Expertise in breast surgery

St Andrew’s breast surgeons are recognised for their expertise and considerable reputations in breast cancer treatment and management.

Professor Owen Ung, MBBS, FRACS, FAICD

Owen Ung is a Breast and Endocrine Surgeon and Director of General Surgery at St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital. He commenced the St Andrew’s breast service following his move from the renowned Breast Cancer Institute at Westmead in Sydney in 2009. Up until the end of 2017 he has been Director for the Centre for Breast Health, Head of the Breast and Endocrine Surgery Unit at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.

Dr Ung is Professor of Surgery for the RBWH UQ Clinical School, and committed to clinical research and teaching. He lectures and is published widely. He is also a council member for the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) and was previous Chair of the Qld RACS Regional Committee and RACS examiner and honorary secretary of Breast Surgery International.

Dr Ben Green, MBBS FRACS

Dr Ben Green is a breast and endocrine surgeon operating and consulting at St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital since 2013. His special areas of interest are breast cancer surgery; familial breast cancer and high-risk patients; oncoplastic breast techniques and breast reconstruction; and complex thyroid, pararhyroid and adrenal disease.

Dr Green is also a staff specialist and incoming Director of the breast and endocrine surgery unit at RBWH. Dr Green is also the current co-chair of the post-fellowship training program in breast surgery for BreastSurgANZ.

Dr Kowsi Murugappan, MBBS FRACS

Dr Kowsi Murugappan commenced as a Breast and Endocrine Surgeon at St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital in early 2017. She completed her general surgical training at the Austin Hospital and Monash Health (2006-2012), and then pursued and completed three years of Breast and Endocrine fellowships at Nepean Hospital – Sydney, Christchurch Hospital and the RBWH. At the end of her Fellowship at RBWH she accepted her current role as staff specialist in Breast and Endocrine surgery.

Over the years, she has broadened her experience in her field including a special interest in oncoplastic and reconstructive breast surgery. Dr Murugappan also has a strong academic focus with active involvement in breast cancer research through University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research.

Expertise in breast care nursing

Patients at St Andrew’s undergoing treatment for breast disease receive individually tailored nursing care from dedicated specialist breast care nurses - Natasha Keir and Sophie Peckham. Natasha and Sophie provide support and information to women and men with breast cancer, their family and those who care for them.

“We aim to help people diagnosed with breast cancer, more aware of the support services available in the hospital and in the community. It is understandably a stressful time for patients, so being able to offer guidance, comfort and support, can provide a great sense of relief to them,” said Natasha.

Natasha and Sophie guide patients on their day of surgery and will usually visit them daily and provide a range of information and resources. They may have had contact with them pre-admission and will help co-ordinate their care.

Natasha our specialist breast care nurse welcomes your direct contact via phone, email or by pre-arranged appointments.

Natasha can be emailed at natasha.keir@uchealth.com.au

Whether you are having breast conserving surgery or a mastectomy as part of your breast cancer treatment plan, you are likely to require a short stay in hospital (usually one to three days).

For information about your hospital stay and what you should expect on the day of your admission, post surgery and after you go home, you can download 'Your guide to breast surgery at St Andrew’s'.