Understanding the Benefits of 3D Digital Mammography

Early breast cancer detection with mammography saves lives. In fact, mammography has helped reduce breast cancer deaths by 40 percent since 1990. The results of one study show that mammography screening can cut the risk of dying from breast cancer by almost 50 percent.

3D digital mammography is an advanced approach to mammography, a type of screening test that can detect breast cancer early while it is most treatable. While it is similar to conventional mammography in many ways, 3D digital mammography has several benefits.

How Mammography Works

During the test, the patient’s breast is placed on a plate. Another plate compresses the breast to flatten the breast tissue, making it easier to image.

The mammogram machine emits a small burst of radiation that passes from one plate through the breast tissue to a detector on the other plate. As it passes through the breast, a small amount of radiation is absorbed by the tissue. The remaining radiation lands on the plate, turning the film dark.

The denser the tissue, the more radiation it absorbs, and the less radiation strikes the plate. This is why bones, teeth, and other dense tissue look white on X-rays, while fluids and air look dark.

The tumors associated with breast cancer are usually denser than breast tissue, so they look white on the mammography images.

The Many Benefits of 3D Digital Mammography

Digital mammography provides many benefits over traditional film mammography. The radiologist can manipulate the contrast of the image to improve its clarity, for example, and can use a computer to detect and investigate any abnormalities they see in the images. Moreover, digital images are easier to share with specialists as needed.

Improved detection of breast cancer

Research shows that 3D mammography increased the detection of breast cancer by 40 percent.

3D mammography, or tomosynthesis, creates a 3-dimensional breast image by assembling multiple images taken from different angles. Conventional mammography produces two images of each breast, taken at two different angles.

Some women have dense breast tissue, though, which makes it harder to detect breast cancer with 2D mammography. A dense breast 3D mammogram also allows doctors to go beyond areas of density to detect tumors.

Reduced recall rates and improved accuracy

In most cases, mammograms provide enough information for doctors to issue the results. Sometimes, the mammogram does not provide enough information, and the radiologist must “recall” the patient to come in for another mammogram.

A study of more than a million women shows that recall rates are lower with 3D mammograms than with 2D mammograms. The recall rate for all women in the study was 9.4 percent, which means that 9.4 percent of the study participants were called back for a follow-up mammogram. The recall rate for 2D mammography was higher, at 10.3 percent, whereas the recall rate for 3D mammograms was only 8.9 percent.

Increased comfort for patients

Many women are more comfortable with 3D digital mammography because of the increased accuracy and lower recall rates than 2D mammograms. This results in less stress and anxiety.

Shorter exam times and faster results

Digital mammography processes images much faster, so examinations are shorter. In fact, one study found that digital mammography shortens exam time by 11 minutes. Since the results can be transmitted digitally, your doctor can get the result faster for you, too.

Insurance coverage considerations

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires most private insurance companies and Medicare to cover mammograms with no out-of-pocket expenses to the patient according to their mammography screening guidelines. These guidelines recommend that women over 40 get a mammogram every other year.

Early breast cancer detection with digital breast tomosynthesis is significant for patients who have a high risk of developing breast cancer. These risk factors include:

• Having dense breasts
• Getting older
• Starting menstrual periods before age 12 and starting menopause after age 55
• Personal history of breast cancer or certain non-cancerous breast diseases
• Genetic mutations to specific genes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2
• Family history of breast or ovarian cancer
• Exposure to the drug diethylstilbestrol (DES)
• Previous treatment using radiation therapy
• Being overweight or obese after menopause
• Being inactive
• Taking hormone replacement therapy or certain oral contraceptives
• Having the first pregnancy after age 30, not breastfeeding, or never having a full-term pregnancy
• Alcohol consumption

Less radiation

All tests that use X-rays, including mammography, emit small amounts of radiation. Since any radiation exposure can lead to cancer, many patients prefer low-radiation mammography for their breast cancer screening. The radiation dose from digital mammography is about 50 percent less than traditional film mammography. What’s more, the newer 3D tomosynthesis uses less radiation than traditional 2D mammography.

While breast cancer continues to be a significant health hazard, 3D digital mammography is the best mammography technology to help doctors detect breast cancer in its earliest stages, when it is easiest to treat. For more information about the benefits of 3D digital mammography, consult with your doctor or the private radiology practice group at Radiology Affiliates Imaging.