In the News

3D Mammography

Liz Blamire

22nd March 2023

Mammography is x-ray imaging of the breast and it is the key tool used for routine breast screening in the UK. In most cases, 2D images are created. However, this month a new breast cancer screening pod has opened in Gateshead and it has a 3D mammography system.

3D mammography, or digital breast tomosynthesis, takes multiple images of the breast from different angles, so a 3D image of the breast can be built up. This enables radiographers to have a clearer picture of what is going inside the breast. This makes 3D mammography a more sensitive and specific screening test.

Sensitivity: the ability of a test to correctly identify patients with a disease.

Specificity: the ability of a test to correctly identify people without the disease.

Liz Blamire

Liz is the current tutor2u subject lead for Health and Social Care. She is a former NHS midwife, who has worked in community, birth centre and acute hospital settings. Liz is an SSAT Accredited Lead Practitioner, who has taught Health and Social Care in FE and secondary schools, where she was a successful HOD. Liz is an experienced senior examiner and author.

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