Mammography is x-ray imaging of the breast and it is the key tool used for routine breast screening in the UK. In most cases, 2D images are created. However, this month a new breast cancer screening pod has opened in Gateshead and it has a 3D mammography system.

3D mammography, or digital breast tomosynthesis, takes multiple images of the breast from different angles, so a 3D image of the breast can be built up. This enables radiographers to have a clearer picture of what is going inside the breast. This makes 3D mammography a more sensitive and specific screening test.

Sensitivity: the ability of a test to correctly identify patients with a disease.

Specificity: the ability of a test to correctly identify people without the disease.