Digital Tomosynthesis Mammography - Breast Cancer Diagnosis

What Is Digital Tomosynthesis Mammography? How Is It Used in Breast Cancer Diagnosis?

Digital Tomosynthesis Mammography is an advanced version of mammography used in routine breast cancer screening and diagnosis. Unlike conventional mammography, Digital Tomosynthesis Mammography creates a 3D map of the breast. This offers important advantages in diagnosis and screening.

At Daviva Health Group, Digital Tomosynthesis systems are used for breast cancer screening and diagnosis. Combined with the experience of our expert radiology staff, the highest possible accuracy in early detection is the goal.

What Is Digital Tomosynthesis Mammography?

Also known among the public as 3D mammography, Digital Tomosynthesis Mammography is an innovative mammography technology that can produce both 2D and 3D images of the breast. Offering significant advantages over traditional 2D mammography, Digital Tomosynthesis Mammography takes multiple X-rays of the breast tissue from various angles. Digital Tomosynthesis Mammography uses X-rays, just like conventional mammography, to obtain images.

Which Diseases Is Digital Tomosynthesis Mammography Used to Diagnose?

Digital Tomosynthesis Mammography is used especially in the diagnosis of breast cancer. It is highly effective in diagnosing breast cancers that are difficult to detect with conventional mammography, such as Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, Invasive Lobular Carcinoma, and Ductal Carcinoma In Situ.
Changes in breast tissue structure that may be a sign of breast cancer.
Non-cancerous cysts or benign tumors.
Small calcium deposits that may be an early sign of cancer.

How Is Digital Tomosynthesis Mammography Performed?

Before having Digital Tomosynthesis Mammography, you should put on the gown provided to you.
The radiology technician takes the patient to a special mammography room where the Digital Tomosynthesis Mammography machine is located. The Digital Tomosynthesis Mammography machine looks the same as a conventional mammography machine.
In front of the Digital Tomosynthesis Mammography machine, one of your breasts is placed on the platform. The technician helps you position your body correctly.
Your breast is gradually compressed against the platform by a transparent plastic plate for a short time. This process may be uncomfortable or mildly painful.
Then the device will gently move over your breast to take a series of low-dose X-ray images from different angles within a few seconds.
You need to remain still to prevent the images from blurring. You may need to hold your breath for a few seconds.
After the first set of images is taken and the breast pressure is released, the device changes position and takes side-view images while your breast remains compressed on the platform.
The procedure is then repeated for the other breast.

What Are the Advantages of Digital Tomosynthesis Mammography?

Digital Tomosynthesis Mammography (3D mammography) is more effective than conventional mammography in cancer detection. Scientific studies have shown that it increases cancer detection rates by approximately 40-50%.
Areas that may appear suspicious on conventional mammography because the images overlap are much clearer on Digital Tomosynthesis Mammography images. Because Digital Tomosynthesis Mammography images the breast tissue layer by layer, patients do not need additional diagnostic imaging.
Because the tissue layers can be seen in greater detail, it gives more effective results in women with dense breast tissue.
Digital Tomosynthesis Mammography can detect smaller, more subtle lesions in the breast. This provides an important advantage for early diagnosis.
Because it provides greater sharpness in diagnostic terms, it eliminates the need to call patients back unnecessarily. This also reduces unnecessary stress that may occur.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT DIGITAL TOMOSYNTHESIS MAMMOGRAPHY

Should I prepare before having Digital Tomosynthesis Mammography?

There are some points to pay attention to beforehand so that Digital Tomosynthesis Mammography scans are more comfortable and the results are clearer.

In Digital Tomosynthesis Mammography, the breast is compressed to obtain images, though not as much as in conventional mammography. Caffeine may increase breast tenderness. For this reason, limiting caffeine intake for a few days before the scan may be helpful.
You do not need to come on an empty stomach. You can eat normally and take your daily medications. If you have breast tenderness, you may use simple pain relievers after consulting your doctor.
Avoid wearing necklaces or long, dangling earrings, as they may affect the images.
Some deodorants, antiperspirants, powders, lotions, creams, or perfumes may contain metallic particles. Using these products before the scan may appear as white spots on Digital Tomosynthesis Mammography images. Since they may cause misinterpretation, these products should not be applied to the underarm and breast area before the scan.
Since you will only need to remove the upper part of your clothing during the scan, wearing two-piece clothing will be more comfortable for you.
If you have previous mammography images, it is important to bring them with you so they can be compared.
If you have any problems such as swelling, pain, or nipple discharge in your breast, share this with your doctor. Also inform your doctor if you have breast implants or are breastfeeding.

Who is recommended to have Digital Tomosynthesis Mammography?

It is important for women aged 40 or 45 to begin annual mammography. If all is well, these routine screenings may continue as mammography checks every 2 years after age 55. However, it is important for women in the high-risk group to start mammography screenings earlier.

High-risk criteria can be listed as follows;

Women who have undergone genetic testing and are found to have a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation
Those who have a first-degree relative with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation
Those who received radiotherapy to the chest area before the age of 30
Women with a previous history of breast cancer
Women with dense breast tissue are considered to be in the high-risk group.

What Is the Best Time for Digital Tomosynthesis Mammography?

Women with particularly sensitive breast tissue may experience a little pain during mammography. Therefore, the period when breast tenderness is at its lowest should be chosen for mammography scans. Although Digital Tomosynthesis Mammography is less painful than conventional mammography, the most suitable time is the week after menstruation ends, when breast tenderness is at its lowest.

Is 3D Mammography (Tomosynthesis) more painful?

3D mammography (tomosynthesis) is not more painful than 2D mammography. Although Digital Tomosynthesis Mammography uses similar or sometimes slightly longer compression during scans, many patients report experiencing less pain.

Is the amount of radiation in Digital Tomosynthesis Mammography risky for my health?

One of the concerns among women is the radiation exposure from the X-rays used in mammography. The radiation dose received during Digital Tomosynthesis is well below international safety limits.