October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and one of the most important tools we have when it comes to breast cancer is screening. When mammography became common in the 1980s, the benefits became clear quickly. The number of people who died from breast cancer began to fall for the first time in 1990, and by 2025, it had fallen by 43%.
The providers at ForeFront Radiology offer women’s imaging services, but we know that many patients have questions about whether they should have a 3D mammogram or stick with a traditional version of the screening, as well as what they can actually learn from the results. In this post, our providers answer some of those questions.
Digital mammography became common in the early 2000s and is now predominant because of the quality of the images and the ability to view the images on a screen where they can be magnified and easily compared to previous results.
Two types of digital mammography are common:
When you have a traditional mammogram, a single, two-dimensional image results, one dimension of the image is from above, called the craniocaudal view, and the other perspective is from the side, called the mediolateral oblique view.
This conventional mammogram is typically less expensive than 3D mammograms, and is often used when the patient has non-dense breast tissue, or when detailed images aren’t necessary, such as following a biopsy.
The technically correct name for a 3D mammogram is digital breast tomosynthesis, and though it is 3D-like, it’s not actually three dimensional. When you have a 3D mammogram, a machine moves around your breast, taking multiple images, then puts them together to form a more complete single image from all those different angles.
The biggest advantage of 3D mammography is that it’s sensitive and can highlight abnormalities even in dense breast tissue, even in the very early stages of cancer.
After your mammogram, one of our radiologists will review the images and give the results a score between 0 and 6, based on the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS). They will also classify your breast density in one of four categories:
Generally speaking, the less dense your breast tissue is, the easier it is to see abnormalities in mammogram images. That’s because fatty tissue appears as dark and tumors or calcification appear as white. Dense breast tissue appears as white on mammograms, making it more difficult to see abnormalities.
A lower BI-RADS score is better. If you have dense breast tissue but no abnormalities are detected, your score will be 1.
Calcium deposits are common, particularly in postmenopausal women, and show up as white spots. Your BI-RADS score may be 3, and a note that the calcifications are “probably benign.”
Mammograms can also show fibrocystic breast tissue, especially during the childbearing years and at certain points of your cycle. And, of course, mammograms can show tumorous masses. A BI-RADS score of 5 indicates a 95% likelihood of cancer.
Regular screenings save lives because they detect cancer before it’s apparent. The earlier you begin treatment, the better your outcome is likely to be. If it’s time for your mammogram, schedule it today at ForeFront Radiology in Fresno, California.
