The use of 3D mammography has been found to detect an increased number of invasive breast cancer cases.

The study’s co-author Donna Plecha, MD, Director of Breast Imaging at UH Case Medical Center, says that 3D mammography helps to detect more invasive cancers, and reduces the cost of patients having to undergo secondary diagnostic examinations in order to rule out a false positive.

Regular breast screening already saves lives, and these findings confirm that 3D mammography is a crucial tool for detecting cancers early when they are still able to be successfully treated.

The study found that a 41 percent increase in invasive breast cancer is detected with the use of 3D mammography. This diagnostic tool is also associated with a 15 percent decrease in the number of false alarms.

University Hospitals Case Medical Center was also involved in the research on breast tomosynthesis (Hologic 3D mammography). This technology provides a much more in-depth image of the breast, giving radiologists an enhanced ability to detect individual breast structures.

According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 232,670 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in American women this year, with about 40,000 of these patients dying from the disease.

“Breast cancers caught in the initial stages by mammography are more likely to be cured and are less likely to require chemotherapy or as extensive surgery. This study shows that 3D mammography is a more effective screening tool, and we must make it accessible to all women,” said Dr. Plecha in a statement.

The findings of the study are published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).