Digital breast tomosynthesis cuts callbacks, aids detection

January 22, 2008 Diagnostic Imaging. Digital breast tomosynthesis cuts callbacks, aids detection Positive study from Netherlands stands out in finding no difference between conventional and new technology Sarah Jersild -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Digital tomosynthesis detects more breast masses, better categorizes those masses, and produces lower callback rates than conventional mammography. In a study of symptomatic patients, tomosynthesis was not superior to mammography, but a combination of the two techniques detected more carcinomas than either alone. Citing results gathered from 30 consecutive subjects in an ongoing study, Dr. Mark A. Helvie, director of breast imaging at the University of Michigan Health System, reported that experienced readers detected 36% more masses with digital tomosynthesis than with mammography. Tomosynthesis provided 48% better margin assessment and detected 100% of cancers (6/6) compared with mammography's 83% (5/6). Malignant cases were rated as 48% more likely to be malignant on digital tomosynthesis compared with mammography.

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