3D mammography no better than 2D, study reveals

The first randomised controlled trial carried out within a population screening program delivers a surprising result
Clare Pain
3D breast scan image
A digital breast tomosynthesis scan. Photo courtesy of Dr Elizabeth Lazarus

Screening by breast digital tomosynthesis does not find more cancers than conventional mammography, according to the results from the first randomised controlled trial comparing the two.

Norwegian researchers were surprised to find that 3D mammography detected breast cancer in only 0.66% of women aged 50-69 years old, a result that was not statistically different from the 0.61% detection rate using conventional mammography.