Authors' recommendations: Only a few, small scale, poor quality studies have been published on the use of tomosynthesis for screening breast cancer. These studies were conducted on images which were likely to have a high number of positive readings. That is the images were obtained from a sample of patients who had been recalled due to a suspect mammogram or was a known positive, and are therefore likely to be biased. Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) performed well under these conditions compared to digital mammography, however it remains to be seen how DBT performs in a true screening environment where the number of true positive patients would be low. Although only a low level of evidence was available to assess tomosynthesis for breast screening, it is likely that this technology will enter the Australian health system, especially in light of the roll out of digital mammography. Currently there is insufficient evidence to proceed with further assessment, therefore HealthPACT recommended that this technology be monitored.

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2008

URL for published report: Not Available

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Australia

Organisation Name: Adelaide Health Technology Assessment

Contact Address: School of Public Health, Mail Drop 545, University of Adelaide, Adelaide SA 5005, AUSTRALIA, Tel: +61 8 8313 4617

Contact Name: ahta@adelaide.edu.au

Contact Email: ahta@adelaide.edu.au

Copyright: Adelaide Health Technology Assessment (AHTA)