Mammography - 3D

Three-dimensional or 3D mammography is one of the latest technologies used to screen for breast cancer. Mercy offers 3D mammography in many of its imaging centers, but it's important to understand what 3D mammography is and who will benefit most from this technology.

What is 3D mammography?

You may notice very little difference between a 3D mammogram and a standard screening (2D) mammogram. A 3D mammogram takes only a few seconds longer than a regular mammogram. During both scans, the breast is compressed between two plates to obtain the images.

However, during a 3D mammogram, the scan takes a series of x-rays of the breast from different angles. The computer then digitally recreates the breast, and radiologists can view “slices” of the image one at a time, making it easier to see and evaluate possible abnormalities.

Is 3D mammography right for me?

Women with dense breast tissue will benefit most. Dense breast tissue means a woman has more glandular tissue compared to fatty tissue in the breast. On a mammogram, glandular tissue and cancer both appear white, making it hard to differentiate between the two.

With a 3D mammogram, a radiologist can use the image slices to better differentiate a cancer from glandular tissue. This leads to better cancer detection and fewer callbacks for additional testing.