In 3D Breast Screening, Two Views Are Best

One-view, three-dimensional (3D) breast screening known as tomosynthesis, results in less radiation dose and approximately five seconds less compression; however, new findings revealed that obtaining both views is necessary to help ensure that a tumor will not be overlooked.

There are practices in Europe that have reported performing only a single view, specifically the mediolateral oblique (MLO) view, said Dr. Noa Beck, from Yale University (New Haven, CT, USA), and the lead author of the study. Two views are standard in the US for 3D breast screening,“ we wanted to see if one view would be sufficient,” she said.

Seven breast imagers reviewed 164 tumors visualized with tomosynthesis and noted on what views the cancers could be seen. The study found discovered that 56% of tumors were equally well seen on both the MLO view and the craniocaudal (CC) view; 34% of the cancers were either better or seen only on the CC view, according to Dr. Beck. “The CC view achieves better compression, and this likely explains the reason the CC view showed lesions more clearly. In a few cases, lesions were only seen on the MLO view because of where the cancers were located in the breast,” she said.

The results stressed that “obtaining both views is necessary to ensure that a cancer will be optimally visualized,” concluded Dr. Beck.

Dr. Beck presented her study’s findings at the American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS) annual meeting on April 19, 2013, in Washington DC (USA).

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Yale University