3-D Mammography for breast cancer detection

In a study involving more than 450,000 women, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania found that 3D mammography, also known as digital breast tomosynthesis, detected 41 percent more lethal cancers than a traditional mammogram alone, and reduced call-backs for additional imaging by 15 percent.

"It's the most exciting improvement to mammography that I have seen in my career," says Dr Emily F. Conant, chief of breast imaging at the Department of Radiology at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine. "3D mammography finds more clinically significant breast cancers earlier, which is the key so that women have more treatment options and ultimately better health outcomes.”

3D mammography paves the way for clearer scanning

Conventional digital mammography is the most widely used approach to screen for breast cancer. However, it can render false-positives – suspicious findings that turn out not be cancer. False positive results can cause doctors to recommend additional imaging, which may be expensive and unnecessary to the patient.

3D mammography allows for a three-dimensional reconstruction of the breast, giving radiologists a clearer view of the overlapping slices of breast tissue. During the test, the breast is placed between two plates, similar to a mammogram, except the x-ray camera rotates to snap 15 images from all angles. Software combines the images to render a 3D creation, as opposed to a 2D birds-eye view. The new technology has shown promise at reducing recall rates in all groups of patients, including younger women and those with dense breast tissue.

In 2011, tomosynthesis was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to be used in combination with standard digital mammography for breast cancer screening.

While 3D mammography found more invasive cancers, detection of in situ cancers (non-invasive cancers) was similar to traditional mammography.

Further links:
Sciencedaily.com
Bostonglobe.com