Menu
Dr. Weil Logo Dr. Weil Logo Weil™ Andrew Weil, M.D.
  • Health & Wellness
    Health & Wellness
    Body, Mind & Spirit
    • Addiction
    • Allergy & Asthma
    • Autoimmune Disorders
    • Back Pain
    • Bone & Joint
    • Cancer
    • Colds & Flu
    • Dental & Oral
    • Diabetes
    • Disease & Disorders
    • Ears, Nose, & Throat
    • Feet
    • Gastrointestinal
    • Hair, Skin, & Nails
    • Headache
    • Heart
    • Insects & Parasites
    • Liver & Kidney
    • Mental Health
    • Pregnancy & Fertility
    • Respiratory
    • Sexual Health
    • Sleep Issues
    • Stress & Anxiety
    • Vision
    Balanced Living
    • Exercise & Fitness
    • Gardening
    • Healthy Home
    • Healthy Living
    • Meditation & Inspiration
    • Meet Dr. Weil
    • Pets & Pet Care
    • Technology
    • Wellness Therapies
    Health Centers
    • Aging Gracefully
    • Children
    • Condition Care Guide
    • Men
    • Women
  • Diet & Nutrition
    Diet & Nutrition
    Anti-Inflammatory Diet & Pyramid
    Anti-Inflammatory Diet Pyramid
    Cooking & Cookware
    Healthy Cooking & Cookware
    Diets & Weight Loss
    Diets & Weight Loss
    Food Safety
    Diets & Nutrition - Food Safety
    Nutrition
    healthy nutrition
    Recipes
    healthy recipes
    Featured Articles
    • Bulletins
      Why Eat More Fruit?
    • Diets & Weight Loss
      Intermittent Fasting (IF)
    • Recipes
      Watermelon & Heirloom Tomato Salad
    • Healthy Living
      Fruit, Herb, & Vegetable Infused Waters: Good Or Bad?
    • Bulletins
      Fruit & Vegetables: Increase Your Intake
  • Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Herbs
    herbal remedies - herbs
    Supplements & Remedies
    suppliments & remedies
    Vitamins
    ask-dr-weil_vitamins-supplements-herbs_vitamins-topnav
  • Ask Dr. Weil
  • Blogs
    Blogs
    Bulletins
    The Legacy Of Living Yes | Spontaneous Happiness | Andrew Weil, M.D.
    Health Tips
    Healthy Drinks To Start Sipping | Andrew Weil, M.D.
    Spontaneous Happiness
    blog_spontaneous-happiness_topnav
  • COVID-19
  • Dr. Weil Origins Skin Care
  • Marketplace
  • Healthy Aging
  • Podcasts
  • Meet Dr. Weil
  • Accessibility
  • Subscribe
3-D Mammograms?
Subscribe
Press "Enter" to search
  1. Home
  2. Health & Wellness
  3. Body, Mind & Spirit
  4. Cancer

3-D Mammograms?

Can you tell me anything about these new 3-D mammograms? Are they really better than the regular ones? I’ve read that they’ll cost more and find more breast cancer.

Andrew Weil, M.D. |September 30, 2014

3-d mammograms
2 min

The 3-D mammogram – medically speaking, these exams are termed tomosynthesis – is a new spin on the digital mammogram – literally. Here, the machine moves around the breast, capturing images from many different angles in order to create three-dimensional pictures rather than remaining stationary as most existing equipment does. A study published in the June 25, 2014, issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association concluded that using digital mammograms in conjunction with the new 3-D technology led to the discovery of more breast cancers than digital mammography alone: the researchers reported that the combination turned up 5.4 breast cancers in every 1,000 women screened compared to 4.2 per 1,000 women found by digital mammography alone. To establish the differences the researchers reviewed the medical records of 281,187 women who had digital mammograms alone and compared them to the records of 173,663 women who had both types. The screenings were conducted between March 2010 and December 2012 at 13 mammography centers in the U.S., both before and after the 3-D technology was added.

In addition to finding more cancers, the researchers reported a 1.6 percent reduction in the “recall rate,” (the number of women who were asked to return for a follow up screening). Of the women recalled, 4.3 percent of those who had digital mammography alone were found to have breast cancer compared to 6.4 percent of those who had both tests.

The other differences reported included slightly more biopsies (1.2 per thousand women screened) with both screenings compared to digital mammography alone. With both methods used, 4.1 invasive cancers were detected per 1,000 women screened compared to 2.9 per 1,000 women with digital mammography alone.

The New York Times reported that about 1,100 of the 13,500 mammography centers in the U.S. have the new 3-D equipment. The additional cost for the test is about $50, but not all insurers cover the new method.

The new test does increase the amount of radiation women receive from screening, but according to experts, this remains low and is well within limits believed to be safe.

Despite the new findings, medical opinions vary on the best strategy for breast cancer screening. In an editorial that accompanied publication of the study, Etta D. Pisano, M.D., of the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, and Martin J. Yaffe, Ph.D., of the University of Toronto wrote that continuing controversy surrounds breast cancer screening and “clear consensus is lacking on when to screen, how often, and with what tools….” To answer these questions definitively the two experts called on the National Institutes of Health to fund “an appropriately powered multi-site controlled clinical trial of modern technology.”

Dr. Pisano was quoted in the New York Times, as saying she doesn’t think the evidence for 3-D mammograms is strong enough to encourage women to opt for it.

Andrew Weil, M.D.

Sources:
Sarah M. Friedewald et al, “Breast Cancer Screening Using Tomosynthesis in Combination With Digital Mammography,” Journal of the American Medical Association, doi:10.1001/jama.2014.6095.

Advertisement
Related Weil Products

Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging for Cancer Support

Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging – Do you or a loved one have cancer? The Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging online guide has simple, effective preventive health information and tools including an exclusive version of Dr. Weil’s Anti-Inflammatory Food Pyramid. Join today and get 14 days free!
Get Started
Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging

Start Your 14-Day Free Trial

Free Newsletters

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Follow Dr. Weil’s Food Pyramid

Get Dr Weils Newsletter Updates

Exclusive Lifestyle, Nutrition & Health Advice

Dr. Weil's FREE health living advice delivered to you!

By clicking "Subscribe," you agree to the DrWeil.com Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive emails from DrWeil.com, and you may opt out of DrWeil.com subscriptions at any time.

Trending Now

3-d mammograms
Cancer

3-D Mammograms?

a better test for breast cancer
Cancer

A Better Test For Breast Cancer?

HDL Cholesterol & LDL Cholesterol: What They Mean | Heart Health | Andrew Weil, M.D.
Cancer

A Blood Test for Breast Cancer?

a test for ovarian cancer
Cancer

A Test for Ovarian Cancer?

Get Dr Weils Newsletter Updates

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil - Get Free Newsletters Right In Your Inbox

Exclusive Lifestyle, Nutrition & Health Advice

Dr. Weil Logo Weil™ Andrew Weil, M.D.
Information
  • About Us
  • Press Information
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Manage Email Subscription
Trending Articles
3-d mammograms
Cancer

3-D Mammograms?

a better test for breast cancer
Cancer

A Better Test For Breast Cancer?

Daily Tips
3 Reasons To Start Eating More Green Beans
Health Tips

3 Reasons To Eat More Green Beans

Worried About Gout? 5 Ways To Help Prevent It
Health Tips

Worried About Gout? 5 Ways To Help Prevent It

  • Flickr
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram

Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

Information on this website is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. You should not use the information on this website for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication or other treatment. Any third party offering or advertising on this website does not constitute an endorsement by Andrew Weil, M.D. or Healthy Lifestyle Brands.

©Copyright2022 Healthy Lifestyle Brands, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. www.drweil.com