Trial results comparing molecular breast imaging (MBI) and digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) in screening patients with dense breast tissue were posted on ClinicalTrials.gov on 2026-02-03. The study reported detection rates of 9 and 14 invasive cancers in the observational group.
Background
Breast cancer screening is crucial for early detection, which can improve treatment outcomes. However, screening can be challenging for patients with dense breast tissue, as dense tissue can obscure tumors on conventional mammograms. Molecular breast imaging (MBI) and digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) are advanced imaging techniques that aim to improve cancer detection in these individuals. MBI uses a radioactive tracer to highlight metabolically active areas, such as tumors, while DBT provides 3D images to reduce tissue overlap. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of these two modalities in a screening setting.
Trial design
This completed observational study enrolled 3023 participants. The trial focused on patients with Breast Carcinoma. The study design involved comparing molecular breast imaging (MBI) and digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) in a screening context, with the goal of understanding their respective roles in detecting breast cancer in dense breast tissue. No specific interventions were listed, as the study was observational in nature, comparing diagnostic modalities.
Key results
The study reported on the rate of detection of invasive cancers within the observational group comparing MBI and DBT:
- For the outcome “Rate of Detection of Invasive Cancers” in the Observational (MBI, DBT) group, one measurement showed 9 participants.
- Another measurement for the “Rate of Detection of Invasive Cancers” in the Observational (MBI, DBT) group showed 14 participants.
These counts represent the number of participants in whom invasive cancers were detected during the study.
What this means
The posted results provide specific counts of invasive cancers detected in patients with dense breast tissue using molecular breast imaging and digital breast tomosynthesis. These numbers offer initial insights into the detection capabilities of these advanced screening methods. For clinicians and patient advocates, these figures contribute to the growing body of evidence on breast cancer screening in challenging populations. Further analysis and context would be needed to fully interpret the comparative efficacy of MBI versus DBT based solely on these raw detection counts.
Source
The information for these trial results was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a public database of clinical studies. The results for the study NCT03220893, titled "Molecular Breast Imaging and Digital Breast Tomosynthesis in Screening Patients With Dense Breast Tissue", were posted on 2026-02-03 on clinicaltrials.gov.