How 3D Mammograms Help Detect Breast Cancer

The 3D mammogram is still one of the best screening tools available to detect breast cancer, even as researchers continue to look for new uses of technology in detecting disease, such as a recent study on computer-aided detection (CAD) to enhance breast cancer screenings.

3D mammography, or digital breast tomosynthesis, uses low-dose radiation to take pictures of breast tissue that are “sliced” into multiple views. Computer software transforms the views into three-dimensional angles of the breast tissue. The density of the breast tissue determines the number of slices. The denser the tissue, the more slices, or views, the computer generates, providing radiologists and technicians clearer views of — and through — the tissue.

[Transcript]

[3D Mammography Bethesda Women's Health Center]
Darlene Da Costa:
3D uses a computer tomography to acquire images through the breast. So, instead of in the past we used 2D, it's a single image, and you have the overlap of breast tissue. The 3D tomo has helped us diagnose early breast cancer, which it's what we want. We want to pick up the smallest as we can, to save patient's life. It's better for the patient, because the cancers are smaller when diagnosed, and it's just the evolution of the technology. Before we use analog, we have to process the image, and the quality wasn't too good. Now, and then we pass to digital images, 2D, and now we just getting better in using computer tomography. Bethesda Woman's Health Center is committed to provide the best care for the patients. When they come here they have the latest technology, and all of our radiologists are fellowship trained. When a patient come here they can feel confident they're having the best care.
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