Combining 2D and 3D breast imaging techniques may improve both the sensitivity and specificity of mammography alone, research indicates.

Combining 2D and 3D breast imaging techniques may improve both the sensitivity and specificity of mammography alone, research indicates.

Presenters at the European Congress of Radiology in Vienna spoke on Friday of increasing evidence to support the adjunctive use of the 3D modality, tomosynthesis.

Professor Rüdiger Schulz - Wendtland, a consultant radiologist at University Erlangen Nuremberg in Germany, spoke of a study of 25 patients with microcalcifications and masses on digital mammography.

Employing digital breast tomosynthesis after a diagnosis of BI - RADS 4 or 5, the researchers found that the combination of imaging techniques appeared to improve sensitivity - although the change was not significant - as well as giving a 25% more accurate description of lesion extension defined by histology.

Professor Schulz-Wendtland said that better results were obtained with tomosynthesis but warned that a basis of full field mammography was essential: "Don't do tomosynthesis alone - first use digital mammography, and if you see something such as microcalcification, then use tomosynthesis."

Another study presented at the congress assessed adjunctive tomosynthesis in 40 patients including those with malignancy or benign tumors, and participants who were tumor free. Fourteen breast radiologists were also recruited, and trained in reading tomosynthesis in a single four - hour session.

Dr Andrew P Smith, PhD of Hologic in Massachussetts, US, presented the findings. He said that inclusion of 3D imaging improved diagnostic accuracy, with cancers given a higher mean probability of malignancy (POM) and non-cancers a lower POM.

Dr Smith said: "The extent of disease is very well visualized with tomosynthesis," adding:  "3D adds to the accuracy of 2D."

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