Utility of Digital Breast Tomosynthesis with Two-Dimensional Synthesized Mammography Images: A Pictorial Essay

Background Mammography has been established as the key modality in the detection and diagnosis of breast cancers. Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) has emerged as a mammographic technique which allows improved visualization of abnormalities by reducing the effect of overlapping breast tissue. Purpose This article is a pictorial essay which highlights the advantages of DBT with two-dimensional (2D) synthesized mammography (2DSM) images, its clinical applications, and its role in breast imaging. Materials and Methods Selenia Dimensions HD mammography machine performs DBT which acquires a series of low-dose digital mammographic images of the compressed breast followed by full-field digital mammography. Software using specialized algorithms helps to create a 2DSM image reconstructed from the DBT data set. The images are interpreted on a dedicated work station on high-resolution monitors by the radiologist. American College of Radiology Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) lexicon is used for reporting. High-resolution breast ultrasound which includes evaluation of the axilla is done for all cases. Conclusion DBT improves detection and better characterization of lesions which thereby increases confidence of interpretation of mammograms and assigning BI-RADS categories for further management.