Breast Imaging

Breast imaging includes imaging modalities used for breast cancer screenings and planning therapy once cancer is detected. Mammography is the primary modality used. Mammogram technology is moving from 2D full-field digital mammography (FFDM) to breast tomosynthesis, or 3D mammography, which helps reduce false positive exams by allowing radiologists to look through the layers of tissue. Overlapping areas of dense breast tissue on 2D mammograms appear similar to cancers and 3D tomo helps determine if suspect areas are cancer or not. About 50% of women have dense breast tissue, which appears white on mammograms, the same as cancers, making diagnosis difficult. Radiologists use the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) scoring system to define the density of breast tissue. Many states now require patients to be notified if they have dense breasts so they understand their mammograms might be suboptimal and they should use supplemental imaging that can see through the dense areas. This includes tomosythesis, breast ultrasound, automated breast ultrasound (ABUS), breast MRI, contrast enhanced mammography and nuclear imaging, including positron emission mammography (PEM).

AI predicts interval cancer risk based on negative mammograms
The ability to predict interval cancer risk is intriguing for providers, as these cancers are often more aggressive and have worse prognoses.
Mammography false positive rates rising, driven by a few key factors
The number of women who had a screening mammogram miss cancer leapt from less than 1 per 1,000 women in 2010 up to as high as 2.5 by 2022.
Pre-op MRI may improve breast cancer care for younger patients
Advanced imaging among this patient population could help radiologists better understand the risk of potential cancer recurrence.
Experts share new recommendations for managing benign breast lesions
The guidelines are a collaboration between the American Society of Breast Surgeons and the Society of Breast Imaging.
Molecular imaging ups invasive cancer detection in dense breast tissue, spots lesions missed by DBT
The modality often detects clinically important disease that is missed on standard 3D mammogram screening exams.

Breast cancer AI ribbon pink artificial intelligence

AI predicts interval cancer risk based on negative mammograms

The ability to predict interval cancer risk is intriguing for providers, as these cancers are often more aggressive and have worse prognoses.

Mammography false positive rates rising, driven by a few key factors

The number of women who had a screening mammogram miss cancer leapt from less than 1 per 1,000 women in 2010 up to as high as 2.5 by 2022.

Pre-operative breast MRI improves outcomes in younger women with breast cancer

Pre-op MRI may improve breast cancer care for younger patients

Advanced imaging among this patient population could help radiologists better understand the risk of potential cancer recurrence.

Experts share new recommendations for managing benign breast lesions

The guidelines are a collaboration between the American Society of Breast Surgeons and the Society of Breast Imaging.

Example of the four types of breast tissue density. The density of fibroglandular tissue inside the breast impacts the ability to easily see cancers. Cancers are very easy to spot in fatty breasts, but are almost impossible to find in extremely dense breasts. These examples show craniocaudal mammogram findings characterized as almost entirely fatty (far left), scattered areas of fibroglandular density (second from left), heterogeneously dense (second from right), and extremely dense (far right). RSNA

Molecular imaging ups invasive cancer detection in dense breast tissue, spots lesions missed by DBT

The modality often detects clinically important disease that is missed on standard 3D mammogram screening exams.

Echogenic rinds on ultrasound may signal invasive cancer.

Breast ultrasound finding may signal invasive cancer, research suggests

Though this finding is relatively uncommon, it is expected that the BI-RADS 6th edition ultrasound lexicon will include it as a feature associated with malignancy.

First in-human trial testing 4D mammography is officially underway

Experts have suggested the emerging technology could be a “pivotal” tool for the future of breast cancer detection.

New Lantern's AI-enabled additions aimed at streamlining mammo and PET workflows

The San Francisco-based company says the updates will accelerate radiology workflows by removing administrative burdens and freeing up radiologists to spend more time reviewing imaging exams instead.