Breast tomosynthesis — often referred to as 3D mammography — is a new technology that converts digital breast images into a stack of very thin layers to build a three-dimensional mammogram.
3D mammography is most beneficial for women with:
- Dense breast tissue per mammographic image
- Patients with a greater than 20 percent lifetime risk of developing breast cancer (as determined by your physician using a breast cancer risk evaluation tool)
- Certain patients who have had an abnormal mammogram
Benefits to 3D mammography include:
- Increase in rate of detection for invasive cancers on screening mammograms by greater than 40%
- Overall decrease in the need for additional diagnostic workup following a screening mammogram by 15-20%
- Decreases need for additional diagnostic workup following first (baseline) screening mammogram by 50%
Although 3D mammography may help to reduce the number of callbacks, follow up ultrasounds may be needed.
Routine screening mammograms can now be scheduled online - no referral is needed for women over the age of 40. Diagnostic mammogram appointments must be made by calling 515.875.9740