The first systematic review of breast tomosynthesis literature indicates that using Hologic’s Genius 3-D mammography exam, which consists of breast tomosynthesis and digital mammography, will increase the rate of invasive cancer detection and lower the rate of false positives more than digital mammography alone.

York Health Economics Consortium, a company that provides consultancy and research in health economics to the pharmaceutical and health care industries, examined all relevant literature through October 2014 — including major screening trials conducted in Europe and the U.S. — and selected five studies from Italy, Norway and the U.S. for review.

The research chosen comes from U.K.’s University of York, Germany’s Referenzzentrum Mammographie Munchen, and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in the U.S.
There has been literature published about the benefits of breast tomosynthesis with digital mammography, but no paper analyzing the exam’s conclusions, methodology and design, according to Dr. Stephen Rose, author of one of the major breast tomosynthesis papers reviewed in this study, in a statement.

Pete Valenti, Hologic’s division president, breast and skeletal health solutions, said that the review of Genius 3-D Mammography demonstrates that women everywhere should have access to this type of screening.

Doctors have been able to screen for breast cancer with 41 percent more accuracy than a 2-D exam, regardless of age or breast density, reported Hologic. Additionally, the Hologic system reduces the chance of being called back for additional screenings by 40 percent.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, and about one in eight U.S. women, or approximately 12 percent, will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime, according to the CDC.

The Genius 3-D Mammography exam is FDA approved and allows physicians to better evaluate the layers of a patient’s breast due to detailed breast images. It is only available on the Hologic Selenia Dimensions system, and women from more than 30 countries have benefited from this technology.

“As a practicing radiologist and an early adopter of tomosynthesis exams, I’m delighted that the benefits of this technology withstood the rigors of this review and continue to offer these important benefits to patients and those charged with protecting health care,” added Rose.

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