Digital Breast Tomosynthesis - a Diagnostic Complement to Digital Mammography : A Literature Review

Sammanfattning: Previous studies/research shows that mammography screening contributed to increased
survival in breast cancer thanks to early detection of disease. However, there was an area in
which mammography had limited diagnostic capability. It was the glandular breast tissue
where cancer could be hidden from view audited radiologists. The purpose of this literature
review was to investigate whether digital brösttomosyntes can improve detection/sensitivity
of breast cancer, especially in dense breasts, and thus help reduce the number of interval
cancers. The method was chosen to make an evidence-based literature review based on
quantitative studies. Goodman's seven steps, and Flemming table was used as a template for
finding and reviewing scientific articles. The selected articles were checked on the basis of
scientific evidence using audit protocols. The results showed that only digital breast
tomosynthesis or digital breast tomosynthesis in combination with digital mammography had
a higher sensitivity of breasts with very glandular tissue, image quality was equal or higher,
and pathology of the glandular rich breast demonstrated better when tomosyntes used alone or
in combination with digital mammography. It is a possibility that women will have great use
of digital breast tomosynthesis as their chances of getting breast cancer, early diagnosis
increases. As a future radiology nurses we have gained new knowledge about the
technological developments in mammography and we hope to arouse interest in digital breast
tomosynthesis also among our readers, prospective and practicing radiology nurses, that they
receive more understanding for the new technology and why it should be used for routine
examinations in mammography screening.