Digital breast tomosynthesis from concept to clinical care

The purpose of this article is to describe the development of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) and to describe its advantages over 2D mammography for breast cancer screening.

Mammographic screening has dramatically reduced breast cancer deaths, but it does not depict all cancer early enough to result in a cure. In addition, because of the recall rates associated with mammography, efforts are underway to reduce access to screening. Use of DBT improves sensitivity and specificity, and there is no longer a need to obtain full-exposure 2D mammograms. DBT will replace standard 2D mammography for breast cancer screening.