CT Being Tested to Detect Breast Cancer Earlier

Mammography The breast is compressed between two plates in conventional mammography. The resulting image is of all tissue layers at once. Normal breast anatomy can hide suspicious areas, especially in women with dense breasts or breast implants. Mammography remains the gold standard, however, and the UC Davis Health System recommends that women have annual mammograms beginning at age 40.

Breast CT A woman lies down on a padded table for a breast CT. The tabletop has a depression with a circular opening through which the woman positions first one breast then the other. A revolving X-ray CT scanner under the table circles the breast, taking a total of about 300 images from various vantage points. Each breast takes about 17 seconds to image. No breast compression is necessary. Radiation levels are no greater than those of a standard mammogram. (Images courtesy UC Davis Health System)