3D Mammography in Diagnostic Environment: A Subjective Review

Analogue film-screen and full-field digital mammography (FFDM) have been shown to be effective for both routine screening and symptomatic breast diagnosis. However, the benefit of mammography may be limited among younger women who tend to have dense breasts. This is due to tissue overlap in two-dimensional (2D) images where tumor may be completely or partially obscured. Overlay of normal structures may produce an image that wrongly suggests an abnormality, leading to unnecessary recall and further assessment. Stereoscopic digital mammography (SDM), a novel imaging technique, enables production of stereoscopic images and volumetric three-dimensional images, thereby reduces tissue overlap. In this study, we evaluate the effectiveness of SDM in comparison to FFDM in terms of lesion conspicuity and characterization. The results show that the use of 3D is most suited for detecting mass lesions by improving margin clarity. It reduces the need for additional mammographic views. Abnormalities that are malignant or develop in denser breasts are more easily seen.