Until now, the 3-D screening method has only been tested in the U.S., even though it has already been approved in Europe. Because extensive training is needed before radiologists can properly interpret the results of a 3-D mammogram test, the FDA approved the system as a supplement to the traditional 2-D test.
The difference between the two mammograms is that with the 2-D technology, only two images are taken and abnormalities can be easily missed or obscured by surrounding tissue. With 3-D technology, a multitude of images are taken and can create a much clearer depiction of the internal structure of the breast.
Created by Hologic Inc. of Bedford, Massachusetts, the new 3-D technology can be installed by medical centers that already have the company's 2-D technology in place. Though the software upgrade would cost around $150,000, initial studies have shown that 3-D and 2-D technology utilized in conjunction with one another significantly reduces the number of times women are called back for additional testing due to inconclusive test results with the 2-D method alone.
Potential downsides of the testing method are increased radiation exposure for women using 3-D over 2-D, as the amount of exposure may actually be doubled. Though higher than with 2-D mammography, this level of radiation exposure is still within the limits established by the FDA.
Currently, the Mayo Clinic recommends that regular mammograms begin for women at age 40.