Investigations reporting digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) describe better depiction of masses and architectural distortions and reduced recall for additional imaging. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the conspicuity and characterization of common findings (mass/distortion or calcifications) on DBT examinations performed by both 15° and 30° scan angles. Three readers independently reviewed 61 DBTs containing 78 findings, without knowledge which were 15( versus 30(acquisitions, and rated DBT lesion depiction using a 7-point Likert scale. An evaluation of image quality with respect to eliminating superimposed tissue and an overall DBT preference were also recorded. Our study showed no overall difference in readers' rating between 15 0 and 30 0 angle acquisition DBT exams for masses and distortions; for calcifications, there was a statistically significant preference favoring the narrow-angle scans. For overall image quality, a slight trend preferring narrow angle DBT was found, with readers' overall preference for narrow angle DBT being statistically significant. © 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.
