3D Mammography (also called digital breast tomosynthesis, or DBT) is an enhanced mammogram technology. It’s performed just like a regular screening mammogram, with the breast in compression, but to capture more images, the X-ray tube moves around the breast in an arc. This allows the radiologist, the doctor interpreting your mammogram, to scroll through the images.
3D mammography has been shown to detect more cancers than a regular screening mammogram and also lowers the chance of being called back after a screening mammogram. This type of mammogram is particularly helpful if you have dense breast tissue, which sometimes makes it harder to detect cancers, or if you’re at higher risk for breast cancer.
While the radiation dose from 3D mammography is slightly higher than that of a standard mammogram, it’s still well within the FDA-approved safe range for annual mammography.
