Research table: Digital breast tomosynthesis (3D mammography) for breast cancer screening
This summary table contains detailed information about research studies. Summary tables are a useful way to look at the science behind many breast cancer guidelines and recommendations. However, to get the most out of the tables, it’s important to understand some key concepts. Learn how to read a research table. |
Introduction: Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), also called “tomo” or three-dimensional (3D) mammography, takes multiple 2-dimensional (2D) digital images of the breast. Computer software combines the 2D images into a 3D image.
Studies show DBT may find a few more breast cancers than 2D mammography [1-5]. Whether DBT is better than standard 2D mammography for breast cancer screening is still under study [1-5].
Learn more about digital breast tomosynthesis (3D mammography).
Learn about breast cancer screening recommendations for women at average risk.
Study selection criteria: Clinical trials with at least 100 cases of invasive breast cancer cases.
Table note: The study findings below compare sensitivity and specificity for screening with 2D digital mammography plus DBT vs. screening with 2D digital mammography alone.
There are no data comparing survival among women who had 2D digital mammography versus those who had DBT (alone or in combination with 2D digital mammography).
Study |
Study Population |
Sensitivity |
Specificity |
||
2D Digital Mammography |
2D Digital Mammography |
2D Digital Mammography |
2D Digital Mammography |
||
Clinical trials | |||||
Oslo Tomosynthesis |
24,301 |
76% |
81%NS |
96% |
98%Sig |
NS = No statistically significant difference between the 2 groups
Sig = Statistically significant difference between the 2 groups
* Included an additional 76 cases of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)
References
- Skaane P, Bandos AI, Gullien R, et al. Comparison of digital mammography alone and digital mammography plus tomosynthesis in a population-based screening program. Radiology. 267(1):47-56, 2013.
- Friedewald SM, Rafferty EA, Rose SL, et al. Breast cancer screening using tomosynthesis in combination with digital mammography. JAMA. 311(24):2499-2507, 2014.
- Bernardi D, Macaskill P, Pellegrini M, et al. Breast cancer screening with tomosynthesis (3D mammography) with acquired or synthetic 2D mammography compared with 2D mammography alone (STORM-2): a population-based prospective study. Lancet Oncol. 17(8):1105-13, 2016.
- Siu AL on behalf of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for breast cancer: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. Ann Intern Med. 164(4):279-96, 2016.
- Melnikow J, Fenton JJ, Whitlock EP, et al. Supplemental screening for breast cancer in women with dense breasts: a systematic review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Intern Med. 164(4):268-78, 2016.
- Skaane P, Sebuødegård S, Bandos AI, et al. Performance of breast cancer screening using digital breast tomosynthesis: results from the prospective population-based Oslo Tomosynthesis Screening Trial. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 169(3):489-496, 2018.
Updated 06/30/22