How does tomosynthesis improve mammography image interpretation?

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Tomosynthesis improves interpretation by turning the flat view of a single 2D mammogram into a series of thin, stacked slices through the breast. It accomplishes this by taking multiple low-dose x-ray projections at different angles and reconstructing them into a 3D volume. With these slices, overlapping structures that can hide a lesion in a single 2D image are separated along depth, making small cancers easier to see and reducing ambiguity from dense or complex tissue. Radiologists can scroll through the slices to evaluate real lesions rather than overlying tissue, which also helps cut down on recalls for inconclusive findings. This remains an x-ray technique and does not replace it with MRI, and although it adds some dose, the overall imaging dose is managed to be comparable to standard screening when used appropriately, rather than eliminating radiation exposure.