Breast tomosynthesis is a three-dimensional (3D) mammogram. Tomosynthesis is shown to be beneficial in the detection of small breast cancers compared with conventional mammography alone, particularly for women with dense breast tissue as this technique reduces tissue overlap.
Tomosynthesis is not a replacement for conventional mammograms, it is a complementary imaging technique. It is performed on the same mammography machine with a similar positioning technique to a standard mammogram. During the scan multiple images are taken of each breast during a single sweep; the computer then reconstructs the generated images into a three-dimensional image.
This technique significantly improves our ability to detect breast cancer. Detection is increased by as much as 50% in some studies. Tomosynthesis will typically find 12-27 additional cancers per 10,000 mammograms compared with conventional mammography.
We have expanded access to tomosynthesis (3D mammography) across all our mammography sites:
Yes, you're welcome to bring up to two support people with you to your appointment. If you require more than two, please contact us so we can work with you to find a solution that meets your needs.
If your support person needs to enter the examination room with you, they may need to wear a protective apron.
Please note: for some examinations, a support person may not be able to enter the scan room for safety, privacy or clinical reasons. Our team will talk you through this if it applies to your appointment.
If you need to bring children, please make sure another responsible adult comes with you to supervise them throughout the appointment. Our team need to focus on your care and cannot supervise children.
If arranging childcare is difficult, please contact us before your appointment. We will do our best to find an option that works for you, so childcare does not prevent you from receiving care.