CHICAGO, Nov. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital tomosynthesis shows promise over
conventional film mammography as a more specific breast screening technique
and a more accurate diagnostic technology, according to a study presented
today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America
(RSNA).
"The results of our preliminary trial suggest that tomosynthesis may
decrease false-positive screening mammography findings by half, thereby
reducing the number of women who are recalled after screening mammography for
a second, more thorough exam," said lead author Steven Poplack, M.D.,
associate professor of diagnostic radiology and obstetrics and gynecology at
the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center/Dartmouth Medical School in Lebanon,
N.H.
A patient's experience is much the same for tomosynthesis as it is for a
standard mammography exam. Tomosynthesis obtains digital data that can be
manipulated and displayed in a variety of ways, including paging through or
cine display of thin (one millimeter) sections or slices of breast tissue,
which eliminates the problem of overlying tissue that might be mistaken for
lesions or that may hide small cancers.
To evaluate the role of tomosynthesis in breast cancer screening and
diagnosis, Dr. Poplack and colleagues studied 98 women who were recalled for
diagnostic imaging following abnormal screening mammograms. The initial
screening mammography exams showed 112 findings in the women.
When the researchers compared the exams and took into account findings
seen with tomosynthesis only, they found that approximately 40 percent of the
patients would not have been recalled had they originally been screened using
tomosynthesis. As a diagnostic imaging technique for follow-up of a potential
abnormality in the breast, tomosynthesis was as good if not better than
diagnostic mammography in 88 percent of patients.
Dr. Poplack is optimistic about the ability of tomosynthesis to improve
the overall accuracy of diagnosing breast disease. "Tomosynthesis is going to
reduce the number of false-positive screening exams and will probably allow us
to find more early breast cancers," he said.
He pointed to a number of reasons this technology is appealing. "The
similarity of tomosynthesis to mammography allows us to build on the current
foundation of mammography while improving interpretation," he said. "It is
both an evolution of mammography technology and revolutionary new technology."
Dr. Poplack expects that tomosynthesis, which is currently in the research
phase, will be routinely used in both screening and diagnostic mammography at
major medical centers in the next several years.
Dr. Poplack's co-authors are Christine Kogel, R.N., Helene Nagy, M.D., and
Tor Tosteson, Sc.D.
Disclosure: Steven Poplack serves as a scientific advisory board member
for Hologic Inc., which sponsored this study.
RSNA is an association of more than 38,000 radiologists, radiation
oncologists and related scientists committed to promoting excellence in
radiology through education and by fostering research, with the ultimate goal
of improving patient care. The Society is based in Oak Brook, Ill.
AT A GLANCE
-- Tomosynthesis may be as good as or superior to diagnostic mammography
in the vast majority of patients.
-- Tomosynthesis can outperform screening mammography at recognizing
benign or normal breast tissue.
-- Tomosynthesis may reduce the number of false-positive screening
mammograms by half.
SOURCE Radiological Society of North America
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