THREE-DIMENSIONAL mammograms can catch breast cancer earlier and reduce false positives, a new study has found.
THE American study found the technique – known as tomosynthesis – helps increase breast cancer detection rate when used alongside traditional 2-D mammograms.
And the combination of the two methods also decreases the proportion of patients called back for more tests, the study published on Wednesday in medical journal JAMA found. The combination is especially good at finding small invasive cancers that are most likely to be lethal. The study led by Sarah Friedewald at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, Illinois, analysed 454,850 examinations from 13 centres, of which 280,000 used just mammograms, and 174,000 used a combination of mammograms and tomosynthesis. There was a higher cancer detection rate in the combination method which could mean fewer unnecessary tests and biopsies, the authors wrote. But while tomosynthesis is likely to be better than traditional mammography, some fundamental questions about when to screen, how often and with what tools remain, the paper said. The technique uses less compression and takes about 20 seconds longer than standard mammography. While mammograms have helped reduce breast cancer deaths, the method has also been criticised for excessive false-positive results, limited sensitivity, and the possibility of insignificant lesions being overdiagnosed.