Objective: The purpose of this article is to describe the development of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) and to describe its advantages over 2D mammography for breast cancer screening.
Conclusion: Mammographic screening has dramatically reduced breast cancer deaths, but it does not depict all cancer early enough to result in a cure. In addition, because of the recall rates associated with mammography, efforts are underway to reduce access to screening. Use of DBT improves sensitivity and specificity, and there is no longer a need to obtain full-exposure 2D mammograms. DBT will replace standard 2D mammography for breast cancer screening.