3-D mammograms are popular, but are they better than 2-D?

Gold standard trials comparing breast cancer screening methods are just getting under way

ALL CLEAR  This 3-D mammogram shows a normal breast. Initial studies suggest that the technology is more sensitive than traditional 2-D imaging, but it’s unclear if that helps reduce the number of deaths from breast cancer.

National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health/Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0)

In recent years, women getting a mammogram have had a new decision to make: 2-D or 3-D?

Some breast-care centers have touted the newer 3-D mammography technology as more accurate.