Breast Cancer Screening & Imaging
Alternative Breast Imaging Options: Consider HerScan Breast Ultrasound, Quantum Breast Imaging (QTI Breast Acoustic CT, a 3D water-bath ultrasound tomography system), or Breast Thermography (Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging). All three modalities are radiation-free and do not require IV contrast. HerScan and QTI provide structural imaging of breast tissue and may help identify abnormalities that are difficult to detect on mammography, particularly in women with dense breasts, whereas thermography evaluates breast surface temperature patterns rather than directly visualizing breast tissue.
Disclaimer: If you choose any of these alternative breast imaging options, please understand that they may not detect all breast cancers. Discuss the benefits, limitations, and potential risks of each modality with your physician, and conduct your own research to make an informed decision about which screening approach is most appropriate for your individual needs, breast density, and cancer risk.
HerScan Breast Ultrasound ~$295
Uses high-resolution, handheld ultrasound to evaluate breast tissue and identify suspicious masses, cysts, or other abnormalities that may be obscured by dense breast tissue on mammography. It is noninvasive, radiation-free, and does not require IV contrast. It may improve detection of some mammographically occult cancers when used as supplemental screening.
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Website: https://herscan.com/registration
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Phone: 1-800-338-7499
Breast Thermography (Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging) ~$150–$350
Uses specialized infrared cameras to measure temperature patterns across the breast surface, identifying areas of increased heat or vascular activity. It is noninvasive, radiation-free, painless, and does not require breast compression or IV contrast. Thermography evaluates surface temperature patterns rather than directly visualizing breast tissue or identifying structural abnormalities. Although some practitioners use it as an adjunctive assessment, there is insufficient evidence that thermography reliably detects early breast cancer or improves screening outcomes. It cannot distinguish benign inflammation from malignancy and should not replace mammography, breast ultrasound, or MRI for breast cancer screening.
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QTI Breast Acoustic CT (Quantum Breast Imaging, Dallas) ~$700
Uses advanced 3D ultrasound tomography performed while the breast is suspended in a warm-water bath. This technology provides detailed volumetric imaging and evaluates tissue characteristics without breast compression, radiation, or IV contrast. It may offer improved comfort and additional characterization of breast tissue, particularly in women with dense breasts. However, its ability to detect breast cancer compared with established screening modalities is still being studied.
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Phone: (469) 333-9022