A large Norwegian trial suggests there may be a way to boost breast cancer detection rates and lower false positive rates, although it does raise the amount of radiation the women receive.
According to researchers including some from the University of Oslo in Norway, adding 3D mammography to conventional mammography increased cancer detection rates while decreasing false positive rates. The downside is that adding 3D mammography doubles the amount of radiation received.
The study was a randomized-controlled trial and involved over 12,000 women in Norway, and the findings were published online in the journal Radiology. It was designed to address a number of issues, among them the cancer detection rate using tomosynthesis, as well as the false-positive rate.
Investigators determined that adding 3D mammography—also known as tomosynthesis—to conventional breast imaging boosted cancer detection by 27%. Furthermore, the combination resulted in a 15% decrease in false-positive results.
This study appears to be the latest attempt to find some sort of alternative to conventional plain-film mammography because of the many limitations associated with it, and because of the proven ability of screening to reduce breast cancer deaths.
While the results are encouraging, it should be noted that the study was supported by the tomosynthesis manufacturer Hologic, which provided the equipment necessary for the study, and that many of the study's co-authors have relationships with Hologic and in some cases work for the company.
Source: MedPage Today
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