Cone Beam System May be More Accurate and Less Painful Than Traditional Mammograms

Mammograms are probably the most important tool doctors have to help them diagnose, evaluate, and follow breast cancer. Mammograms don't prevent breast cancer, but they can save lives by finding breast cancer as early as possible so it can be treated. But mammograms aren't perfect. Normal breast tissue can hide a breast cancer, so that it doesn't show up on the mammogram. Mammograms also can be uncomfortable.

Cone Beam Breast Computed Tomography is a new kind of test to screen for breast cancer. Right now, the Cone Beam system is available only for research purposes. It also costs significantly more than a traditional mammogram.

The early results are promising. Researchers believe that this new breast imaging technique will make breast cancers easier to see in dense breast tissue, and will make breast screening more comfortable.

• Research News on Screening and Testing (122 Articles)