Radiologists are using DBT clinically and more frequently, but it still remains a limited resource.
Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) is being used more frequently but its use is still limited, according to an article published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology.
Researchers from the University of Colorado in Aurora sought to assess the utilization of DBT and examine the criteria for offering DBT to patients. They surveyed physician members of the Society of Breast Imaging, who completed an online survey that asked questions about their use of DBT.
Survey questions included the availability of DBT at their practice location, breast imaging practice characteristics and if DBT is used for clinical care or research. The researchers were also looking for information on clinical decision rules guiding patient selection for DBT, associated costs and if the physicians’ practices had any plans to obtain DBT.
The survey garnered a 37 percent response rate (670 respondents). Of these, 200 physicians (30 percent) stated they used DBT; 89 percent used DBT clinically. “Criteria used to select patients to undergo DBT varied, with 107 (68.2 percent) using exam type (screening versus diagnostic), 25 (15.9 percent) using mammographic density, and 25 (15.9 percent) using breast cancer risk,” the authors wrote.
The procedure was used most often in academic practices, and in practices that had more than three breast imagers or seven or more mammography units.
The authors concluded that DBT is being used more often but is still limited. “Clinical guidelines would assist practices in deciding whether to adopt DBT and in standardizing which patients should receive DBT,” they wrote.
European Society of Breast Imaging Issues Updated Breast Cancer Screening Recommendations
April 24th 2024One of the recommendations from the European Society of Breast Imaging (EUSOBI) is annual breast MRI exams starting at 25 years of age for women deemed to be at high risk for breast cancer.
New Research Examines Socioeconomic Factors with Mammography No-Shows
April 10th 2024Patients with Medicaid or means-tested insurance were over 27 percent more likely to miss mammography appointments, and only 65 percent of women with three of more adverse social determinants of health had a mammography exam in a two-year period covering 2020 and 2021, according to new research and a report from the CDC.
Mammography Study: AI Improves Breast Cancer Detection and Reduces Reading Time with DBT
April 3rd 2024An emerging artificial intelligence (AI) model demonstrated more than 12 percent higher specificity and reduced image reading time by nearly six seconds in comparison to unassisted radiologist interpretation of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) images.