Reading Digital Breast Tomosynthesis Exams From a Single Desktop
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Anne Richards, Clinical Development Manager, Women’s Healthcare, Carestream
A recent article in the Wall Street Journal on 3-D mammography discussed the potential for digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) to enhance the detection of cancers. I was reminded of how important it is to not only capture the best breast images possible, but also to have an efficient and effective system that helps radiologists make an accurate diagnosis.
As I revisited the accomplishments our team has achieved in designing a new module that displays DBT exams on our mammography workstation—while also displaying digital mammograms, breast ultrasound, breast MRI and general radiology exams from a single desktop—I was struck by how easy it is (or could have been) to add yet another dedicated workstation to the radiology reading environment and then falsely believe we have actually improved the diagnostic workflow.
We resisted that path. Our team has long demonstrated our commitment to supporting multiple digital breast imaging modalities on our mammography workstations, and we have fiercely resisted the temptation add new, single-use workstations that might seem alluring because of their “dedicated” nature—when in fact they add costs and create inefficiency. Supporting multiple breast imaging modalities—as well as general radiology exams—enables radiologists to deliver a faster diagnosis to referring physicians and can ultimately enhance patient care.
Our smartly designed tomosynthesis module streamlines workflow by allowing healthcare providers to store, route, display and query/retrieve DBT exams from DICOM-compliant acquisition devices, so radiologists have all the tools they need on one workstation. Comparison tools enable radiologists to use personalized hanging protocols for DBT exams along with other procedures, especially the 2D mammograms. In addition, specialized tools that further enhance productivity include: automatic positioning of DBT and mammograms that eliminates manual manipulations; automatic “same sizing” of DBT and mammograms that aid in comparing changes in anatomy; and concurrent magnifying glasses that provide close-up comparison of pathology across multiple views and procedures.
With our advanced system, radiologists can quickly and easily read exams from all modalities and vendors at a single workstation. And working smart is an important element in improving patient care.
How do you view or plan to view digital breast tomosynthesis? What do you think about 3D breast imaging?
