Successful treatment and survival rates for breast cancer patients are dramatically affected by early detection. While digital or 2D mammography is still a valuable tool in the fight against breast cancer, it provides only a two-dimensional image of the breast.
The Genius™ 3D Mammography™ exam allows doctors to examine breast tissue layer by layer. Instead of viewing the complexities of breast tissue in a flat image, as with conventional 2D mammography, fine details become more visible and are no longer hidden by tissue above or below.
Very low X-ray energy is used during the screening examination, keeping radiation exposure below FDA guidelines. The Genius™ 3D Mammography™ exam reduces callbacks by up to 40% compared to 2D mammography alone. In addition, the Genius exam has been shown to find 20–65% more invasive breast cancers than 2D alone, with an average increase of 41%.
The Genius exam is also the only mammogram FDA approved as superior for women with dense breasts, making it a better mammogram option for many women.
The Genius exam may also be used during a diagnostic mammogram if you are called back for additional imaging.
What to Expect During Your Exam
A Genius 3D Mammography™ exam is very similar to a traditional mammogram. The technologist will position you, compress the breast under a paddle, and take images from different angles.
During the Genius portion of the exam, the X-ray arm sweeps in a slight arc over the breast, capturing multiple images in just seconds. This allows your doctor to view breast tissue in one-millimeter layers. Instead of seeing all tissue in a single flat image, the radiologist can examine the breast one “slice” at a time.
There is no additional compression required for the Genius exam, and it only takes a few seconds longer for each view. The technologist reviews the images at a workstation to ensure they are adequate for interpretation by a radiologist, who then reports the results to your physician or directly to you.
Who Can Have a Genius™ 3D Mammography™ Exam?
The Genius exam is more accurate for women of all ages, including those with both dense and non-dense breasts. It is the only mammogram FDA approved as superior for women with dense breast tissue.
What About Radiation?
The radiation dose used during a Genius exam is comparable to that of a conventional 2D mammogram when low-dose software is used.
How the Genius™ 3D Mammography™ Exam Works
The Genius exam allows doctors to examine breast tissue layer by layer. Instead of viewing the complexities of breast tissue in a flat image, fine details are easier to see and are no longer hidden by tissue above or below.
A helpful analogy is a book. When looking at the cover, you cannot see every page inside. When the book is opened, however, you can examine each page individually. The Genius exam works similarly, allowing doctors to view breast tissue one layer at a time.
The exam produces both a 2D and 3D™ image set. The 2D image can be either directly acquired or generated from the 3D™ image data.
For more information about a 3D mammogram, please call one of our Outpatient Diagnostic Centers.
* Compared to 2D mammography alone.
References
1. FDA submissions P080003, P080003/S001, P080003/S004, P080003/S005.
2. Friedewald SM, et al. Breast cancer screening using tomosynthesis in combination with digital mammography. JAMA. 2014;311(24):2499-2507.
3. Zuckerman SP, et al. Radiology. 2016;281(3):730-736.
4. Skaane P, et al. Radiology. 2014;271(3):655-663.
5. Bernardi D, et al. Lancet Oncology. 2016;17(8):1105-1113.
6. McDonald ES, et al. JAMA Oncology. 2016;2(6):737-743.
7. Rafferty EA, et al. JAMA. 2016;315(16):1784-1786.
8. Data on file at Hologic.
9. National Cancer Institute.
10. Breastcancer.org statistics.
11. American Cancer Society.
The Genius™ 3D Mammography™ exam is acquired on the Hologic® 3D Mammography™ system and includes both 2D and 3D™ image sets. The 2D image may be directly acquired or generated from the 3D™ data. The Genius exam is only available on the Hologic system. Please consult your physician for a full list of benefits and risks associated with mammography.