[Tomosynthesis: luxury or necessity?]

J Radiol. 2009 Dec;90(12):1813-21. doi: 10.1016/s0221-0363(09)73587-5.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Digital mammography is replacing conventional film-screen mammography. One of its advantages is to offer options of advanced processing such as tomosynthesis. Tomosynthesis allows to avoid the overlap of tissues depitected on mammograms, and potentially to improve the detection of subtle lesion such as architectural distortion, permits the characterization of masses and of density asymmetry and the accurate measurement of beast lesion by a better delineation of the lesion borders. Furthermore, in cases of superimposition mimicking an abnormality, it can show the lack of a significant finding and decrease the recall rate. However, additional studies are necessary to evaluate its added valve by comparison to mammography in consecutive patients and not only in retrospectively selectioned cases and to define its indication in diagnostic and screening.

MeSH terms

  • Breast Diseases / diagnostic imaging*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional*
  • Mammography / methods*