What to Know About 3D Mammograms
The traditional or standard mammogram came into popular usage in the 1970s and revolutionized the early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer. For the past five decades, it has been instrumental as a tool to help diagnose breast cancer, which remains the most common form of cancer, accounting for over 30% of all cancers diagnosed.
Standard mammograms are two dimensional and created by using two separate x-ray images of each breast. Many women and some men (less than 1% of all breast cancers diagnosed occur in men) are familiar with the procedure that involves what many consider an uncomfortable, though not long in duration, squeezing of breast tissue to get the necessary images.
The breasts are compressed during mammograms for two reasons. The first is that when breast tissue is compressed it lowers the amount of radiation needed to penetrate the tissue and the spreading out of the tissue produces clearer, better-quality images. Secondly, a compressed breast prevents unnecessary motion from occurring, which can blur images and cause abnormalities to be missed. While that compression may not feel great, it helps radiologists see what they need to see to diagnose any present cancer more accurately.
In 2011, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized what is called 3D mammograms as a new standard of care. This had been the first major advancement in mammograms since 2000 when the images began to be digitized. 3D mammograms use x-rays like standard mammograms, but the images are multiple, cross-sectional, and then combined to create a 3D image of each breast. The process for patients feels similar, regardless of what type of mammogram is given.
Some of the known benefits of 3D mammograms are that when combined with standard mammogram images, they lower the need for follow up imaging. Because the images for a 3D mammogram are three dimensional, the images that doctors use to diagnose cancer are less flat and more layered. Imagine a “slice” of breast tissue to examine rather than a photo on a screen. The details of the tissue, including the presence of cancerous tumors, are easier to detect because they are not hidden by other tissue, as in a flat or 2D image.
In March 2020, a five-year study published in the journal Radiology, showed that 3D mammograms have an advantage over standard mammograms in the clinical care of patients. Research supports that 3D mammograms find more breast cancers and have fewer false positives. This same study found that a statistically significant fewer number of patients are called back for repeat screenings or other more invasive measures like biopsies when 3D mammograms are used. It appears that 3D mammograms are also more effective in detecting invasive cancer.
Dr. Srilata Gundala is a hematologist/oncologist and founder of Hope & Healing Care Centers in Lombard and Hinsdale, Illinois and appreciates the increased availability of 3D mammograms for her patients, “The advancements in technology have shaped how we detect breast cancers. Having access to that technology can determine how soon a patient is diagnosed and treated. Earlier is better, in almost every case. I highly recommend 3D mammograms to my patients who have access to them.”
Like standard mammograms, 3D mammograms are used as a diagnostic tool for people with no apparent signs or symptoms of cancer. They are becoming more common, but not yet universally available. Before getting a 3D mammogram, patients should confirm that their insurance carrier covers the screening. If you are a patient who does not yet have access to 3D mammograms because of proximity or lack of insurance coverage, do not fear that the standard mammogram is no longer useful or effective. Dr. Gundala explains, “The best mammogram for any patient is the one that is available to them. If you only have access to a standard mammogram, that is the one you should get.”
Written By: Sheila Quirke, MSW
Reviewed By: Srilata Gundala, MD
