Editors: Joerg Barkhausen, MD; Achim Rody, MD; and Fritz Schaefer, MD
Publisher: Thieme – 221 pages, with 486 illustrations
Book Review by: Nano Khilnani
Digital Breast Tomosynthesis or DBT for short is a relatively new diagnostic process in the detection of breast cancer and other abnormalities. It enables the physician to get a much more detailed view of the interior of the breast, with ‘slices’ of the dense breast parenchyma. DBT is sometimes used in addition to digital mammography to get clearer and more detailed views. It is a low-dose, short x-ray sweep around the compressed breast.
DBT combines the use of tomography and three-dimensional reconstruction to enable improved and more conspicuous views of lesions. This method provides more volume and detail of information than what can be obtained through full-field digital mammography (FFDM). DBT is especially useful for earlier detection of breast cancer.
The DBT method of detection makes it possible to view certain anatomic structures – such as calcium deposits – that are difficult to detect through conventional projection mammography. In the latter instance, there are limitations: some superimposed structures obstruct the view of other underlying structures that may be cancerous.
Nine specialists from Germany including the three editors – who are mainly professors and practitioners in the areas of breast imaging, obstetrics and gynecology, nuclear medicine, oncology, and radiology – authored the five chapters of this unique book on the innovative field of digital breast tomosynthesis.
We provide you below an overview of the contents of this handy book:
- Introduction
- The Physics of Tomosynthesis
- Clinical Evaluation of Digital Breast Tomosynthesis
- Innovations and Future Developments
- Illustrative Case Reports: Cases 1 through 45
- List of 21 Videos
To view the videos, go to www.MediaCenter.Thieme.com. When prompted by the registration process, input the access code on the sheet of paper found at the beginning of this book.
As of the publication of this book in early 2016, three United States manufacturers of DBT equipment have satisfied the requirements of the Food and Drug Administration with reference to image quality and dose. Comparisons of these pieces of equipment are provided in this valuable book.
The editors point out that a growing number of breast imaging professionals have been using this new technology for the enhanced screening views that it provides which reduce the chances of misdiagnosis.
Among the benefits of using this book are the following. It:
- Offers the required knowledge in digital breast tomosynthesis or DBT
- Details the physics of DBT
- Discusses considerations of image quality
- Helps reduce screening recall rates
- Looks into concerns of artifacts, cost effectiveness, dosage, image archiving, and interpretation time
The authors of this pioneering work offer you numerous references to literature from around the world including findings from a large multicenter study of nearly 455,000 women that confirmed a decrease in screening recall rates as well as an increase in cancer detection.
Editors:
Joerg Barkhausen, MD is Professor of Radiology ion the Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine at the University of Lubeck in Lubeck, Germany.
Achim Rody, MD is Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Lubeck in Lubeck, Germany.
Fritz K.W. Schaefer, MD is Professor of Radiology on the Division of Breast Imaging and Interventions at Schleswig-Holstein University Hospital, Kiel Campus in Kiel, Germany
Contributors:
Joerg Barkhausen, MD
Kristin Baumann, MD
Dorothea Fischer, MD
Isabell Grande-Nagel, MD
Smaragda Kapsimalakou, MD
Thomas Mertelmeier, MD
Christophe Mundhenke, MD
Berndt Michael Order, MD
Achim Rody, MD
Fritz K.W. Schaefer, MD
Florian Vogt, MD
