Combining DBT with FFDM almost doubles reading time

Adding digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) to full-field digital mammography (FFDM) almost doubles interpretation time for all breast densities compared with FFDM alone -- with the exception of extremely dense breast tissue, Yale University researchers have found.

Dr. Vivek Kalra and colleagues measured interpretation time for combined DBT and FFDM and standard FFDM screening studies over a three-month period. The group found that interpretation time for combined DBT and FFDM averaged one minute, 56 seconds, while interpretation time for FFDM alone averaged one minute, eight seconds.

This boost in reading time for screening DBT and FFDM needs to be considered, the team concluded, as it could affect workflow and carry temporal and financial implications for a department's or practice's resource management.