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Portrait of Magnus Dustler. Photo

Magnus Dustler

Researcher

Portrait of Magnus Dustler. Photo

Digital breast tomosynthesis in breast cancer screening : an ethical perspective

Author

  • Simon Rosenqvist
  • Johan Brännmark
  • Magnus Dustler

Summary, in English

Abstract: Although digital breast tomosynthesis has higher sensitivity than digital mammography and at least as high specificity, digital mammography remains the most common method for conducting mammographic screening. At the same time, mammography systems are now delivered “DBT-ready” and can be used for either digital mammography or digital breast tomosynthesis. In this paper, we ask whether it is ethically permissible to use such equipment for digital mammography, given its lower sensitivity. We argue it is not, and that clinics are ethically required to use their DBT-ready equipment to screen with digital breast tomosynthesis whenever this is practically possible. Our argument relies on a comparison between digital breast tomosynthesis and a hypothesized improvement in the image quality of digital mammography. Critical relevance statement: Women may lose out on the benefits of screening with digital breast tomosynthesis when DBT-ready equipment is used to screen with digital mammography; we argue that this practice is ethically problematic. Key Points: Digital breast tomosynthesis finds more cases of breast cancer than digital mammography. Mammography equipment can often be used to screen with both digital breast tomosynthesis and digital mammography. When they can, clinics are ethically required to use existing equipment to screen with digital breast tomosynthesis instead of digital mammography.

Department/s

  • Medical Radiation Physics, Malmö
  • Radiology Diagnostics, Malmö
  • LUCC: Lund University Cancer Centre

Publishing year

2024-12

Language

English

Publication/Series

Insights into Imaging

Volume

15

Issue

1

Document type

Journal article (comment)

Publisher

Springer

Topic

  • Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging

Keywords

  • Breast
  • Digital breast tomosynthesis
  • Digital mammography
  • Ethics
  • Health policy

Status

Published

Research group

  • Medical Radiation Physics, Malmö
  • Radiology Diagnostics, Malmö

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1869-4101