Age Influences the Impact of Combining Digital Breast Tomosynthesis and Ultrasound
Table of Contents
Recent research presented at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) 20
Age Impacts the Benefit of Combining Digital Breast Tomosynthesis and Ultrasound
Recent research presented at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) 2023 annual meeting indicates that the benefits of combining digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) with whole-breast ultrasound (WBUS) for breast cancer screening vary substantially depending on a woman’s age. The study,led by Dr. Liane Philpotts of Yale University, suggests that while the combination may offer advantages for women under 65, the impact is less pronounced in those 65 and older.
Understanding the Study findings
researchers analyzed data from 93,189 DBT screenings conducted over a three-year period. The cohort was divided into two age groups: women younger than 65 (60,152 screenings) and women aged 65 and older (33,037 screenings). All examinations were reviewed by a team of 12 dedicated breast radiologists. The study aimed too determine trends in abnormal interpretation rates and the detection of cancers through supplemental WBUS, comparing results between women who underwent DBT alone and those who received DBT in conjunction with WBUS.
The analysis revealed a key difference in abnormal interpretation rates between the two age groups. among women under 65, the rate of abnormal findings was lower when DBT was combined with WBUS compared to DBT alone. However,this difference was not observed in women aged 65 and older,where the abnormal interpretation rates were similar regardless of whether WBUS was used.
Abnormal Interpretation Rates by Age and Screening Method:
| Cohort | DBT Alone | DBT plus WBUS | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|
| < 65 years | 16.6% | 14.2% | 0.001 |
| ≥ 65 years | 13.1% | 13.3% | 0.78 |
These findings suggest that the addition of WBUS may be more valuable for younger women, possibly due to differences in breast density and cancer characteristics.
The Role of Breast Density and age
Breast density naturally decreases with age, but the risk of developing breast cancer increases. While dense breasts can make it more challenging to detect cancer on mammography, they are more common in younger women. WBUS is often used as a supplemental screening tool for women with dense breasts,
Worth a look