3-D imaging for breast cancer screening moving toward standard of care

It is commonly known that by the age of 40, it is time for women to begin annual mammograms, which are low-dose X-rays that allow doctors to look for change in breast tissue.

A mammogram can often find or detect breast cancer early, when a tumor is tiny and even before a lump can be felt, and this is when it's easiest to treat.

However, there has been a recent shift in the type of mammograms that are used. Conventional mammography captures the breast in a 2-dimentional (2-D), or “flat” picture in which abnormalities may be hidden by overlapping tissue.

A 3-D scan takes a series of X-rays of the breast from different angles and then creates a 3-dimensional image of the breast. This allows physicians to view the breast tissue in greater detail, making tumors easier to detect. The breast is positioned and compressed in the same way as a conventional mammogram.

Studies show that this technology increases the detection of invasive breast cancers. About 1 in 8 U.S. women (about 12.4 percent) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. In 2018, an estimated 266,120 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 63,960 new cases of noninvasive (in situ) breast cancer. About 2,550 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in men in 2018. A man's lifetime risk of breast cancer is about 1 in 1,000.

Advantages of 3-D mammography include:

• Improved accuracy: Viewing breast tissue from multiple angles makes smaller tumors easier to see. Research shows 3-D imaging helps physicians identify more cancers than conventional mammography alone.

• Earlier diagnosis: 3-D images provide a more detailed view of the breast, which helps physicians detect tumors at an earlier, more treatable stage. This technology is particularly beneficial for patients who have dense breast tissue.

• Safe and effective: While 3-D mammography delivers slightly more radiation than 2D in order to acquire images at multiple angles, the amount of radiation is well within guidelines set by the Federal Drug Administration.

• Less anxiety: 3-D mammography helps reduce the incidence of “false positive” results that lead to additional imaging and biopsies.

Who should have a 3-D scan?

All women who have a screening mammogram benefit from 3-D imaging. However, women with dense breast tissue are likely to benefit the most.

Dense breast tissue means a woman has more glandular tissue compared to fatty tissue. On a mammogram, glandular tissue appears white, while fatty tissue appears gray. However, cancer is also white on a mammogram.

Since the radiologist is able to view the breast as thin slices, a 3-D mammogram can better differentiate a cancer from overlying glandular tissue, increasing cancer detection and decreasing chances of a “false positive.”

Because 3-D mammography has only recently been approved for reimbursement, it is advised you contact your insurance company for specific details regarding coverage.

All northern Northwestern Medicine locations offer 3-D imaging. To schedule your mammogram, call Northwestern Medicine at Lake Forest Hospital, Grayslake, Glenview, Gurnee or Vernon Hills at (847) 535-8000.