Role of tomosynthesis and ultrasound in the assessment of asymmetric breast densities: a comparative prospective study

Abstract Background Tomosynthesis is a recent advancement of full-field digital mammography involves transforming two-dimensional (2D) breast images into three dimensions (3D) images. It reduces the adverse effect of tissue superimposition on conventional 2D- mammography, therefore having high potential enhancing identification and assessment of asymmetric breast densities. The aim of the study was to assess and compare the diagnostic performance of breast ultrasound and 3D digital breast tomosynthesis in the assessment of asymmetric breast densities. Results In the current study, 80 patients with 80 mammographically and/or tomosynthesized breast asymmetries were included. The patients' ages ranged from 30 to 70 years old, with a mean age of 47.2 ± 9.2 SD. Breast ultrasound outperformed digital breast tomosynthesis in terms of diagnostic performance. Tomosynthesis had a sensitivity of 86.4%, specificity of 93.1%, positive predictive value of 82.6%, negative predictive value of 94.7%, and accuracy of 91.3% compared to ultrasounds' sensitivity of 100.00%, specificity of 93.1%, positive predictive value of 84.6%, negative predictive value of 100.00%, and accuracy of 95%. Conclusions Incorporating ultrasonography in the assessment of asymmetric breast densities outperformed tomosynthesis and shown to be more precise in characterisation of lesions underlying asymmetric breast density