Dear Women's Imaging Insider,
Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) continues to interest researchers, especially as new studies demonstrate its utility. You won't want to miss this latest study from Dr. Per Skaane in Norway as he and his team have released two-year follow-up data from the Oslo Tomosynthesis Screening Trial.
The researchers found using DBT in conjunction with full-field digital mammography (FFDM) significantly increased screen-detected cancers and specificity.
Mention the word "audit" and most people feel nervous. However, an audit service in Russia shows clinical audits can reduce costs, boost productivity, and sharpen radiologists' skills. The Unified Radiological Information Service in Moscow already assesses 150 CT, MRI, and mammography systems across 64 outpatient departments. The service is gearing up for further expansion. Read more about the venture.
Along those same lines, Dutch researchers reported almost one-third of breast cancers detected in a high-risk screening program using breast MRI were already visible at the last negative MRI. The results apply to both screen-detected and interval cancers, they added. What can be done about the problem? Find out, and if you have any tips, mention them in our Forums.
Meanwhile, there's bad news from England: The proportion of women between the ages of 50 and 70 taking up routine breast screening invitations has fallen to the lowest level in 10 years, according to a new report. The emphasis on informing women about the pros and the cons of screening is thought to be behind the reduced attendance, but one expert is convinced the media is to blame.
Speaking of media, is the mammography debate an example of "fake science"? It might be, according to a paper published recently in BMC Medical Ethics from a Norwegian researcher who claims to show how breast screening researchers fit facts to suit their beliefs. Do you agree?
Be sure to head on over to the Women's Imaging Community to scope out more stories that will interest you. And keep checking back next week, especially as we'll be live onsite at ECR 2018, delivering all the latest news in the world of women's imaging.
