Objectives To assess screening quality metrics and to describe mortality rates eight years after redesign of breast cancer screening and diagnosis pathways, and the introduction of digital breast tomosynthesis. Setting Breast Unit of the Toledo Health Area in the region of Castilla-La Mancha (Spain). Methods We recorded screening metrics and mortality data following the introduction of digital breast tomosynthesis in 2011 for screening and diagnosis pathways. We then compared the mortality between Toledo Health Area and the rest of Castilla-La Mancha, where digital breast tomosynthesis is not available. Results All screening quality metrics improved following the introduction of digital breast tomosynthesis. The cancer detection rate significantly increased from 2.3 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.9–3.6) to 4.5 per 1000 women (95% CI: 3.2–5.2) on average between the periods 2005–2009 and 2015–2018, while the recall rate significantly decreased from 7.0% (95% CI: 6.8%–8.2%) to 2.6% (95% CI: 2.0%–3.6%). Comparing breast cancer mortality rates for 2014–2018 in the Toledo Health Area with the rest of Castilla-La Mancha, which had similar cancer treatment access and management protocols but without digital breast tomosynthesis, the crude mortality rate was 17.79 (95% CI: 15.38 -20.19) vs. 24.76 per 100,000 (95% CI: 26.12–23.39), respectively. The cumulative risk of death was also significantly lower for the Toledo Health Area than for Castilla-La Mancha. Conclusion The introduction of digital breast tomosynthesis improved screening quality indicators. Breast cancer mortality simultaneously decreased with respect to the rest of Castilla-La Mancha. Further research is needed to assess the long-term results, and the role that the redesign may have played in reducing mortality.

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The use of microwave imaging for breast cancer detection has witnessed growing attention from researchers around the globe. In the past decade, a number of microwave imaging prototypes have completed the preliminary experimental stages and reached clinical trials. This paper presents the machine characterization and preliminary clinical trial results of MammoWave, a dedicated radar-based microwave imaging system for breast lesion detection. MammoWave uses a Huygens principle-based algorithm, operates in air, using two antennas without requiring matching liquids. Our clinical trial results on 102 breasts from 64 patients indicate MammoWave's ability to distinguish between breasts with and without radiological findings, with a sensitivity of 88%. Significantly, when considering dense breasts only, the sensitivity does not decrease.

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