Pain-Free Breast Cancer CT Scans Introduced in Australia
For the first time in Australia, women can now access pain-free breast cancer CT scans, providing a significant alternative to traditional mammograms, which often involve uncomfortable breast compression. This innovative approach, known as Cone Beam Breast CT, is especially beneficial for women with dense breast tissue, delivering clearer imaging compared to conventional methods.
Approximately one-third of women over 50 in Australia have dense breasts, with around 25% of younger women (under 50) affected to a similar extent. This new technology, which has received FDA approval in the United States, is currently pending registration in Australia. Belinda Yates, a patient who accessed this technology through the TGA’s special access scheme, praised the experience, stating that it is markedly different from mammograms as there is no physical contact with the breast during the scan, resulting in a completely pain-free process.
Brisbane Radiology has become the first clinic in Australia to utilise this advanced technology after extensive research over the last decade. Dr Jacqueline Milne highlighted its effectiveness in detecting small lesions in women with dense and complex breast tissue, indicating that the technology has the potential to transform breast imaging in Australia. The adoption of a contrast dye can further enhance visibility during scans.
These scans not only aid in early detection but also assist in surgical planning to minimise deformities post-surgery, especially critical given the increasing number of breast cancer survivors. The emerging technology carries an out-of-pocket expense of approximately $300 and currently is not included in Australia’s BreastScreen program, which provides free mammograms for women aged over 40.
Recent guidelines for breast cancer screening now recommend that women be informed about their breast density. This move has sparked calls for consistent implementation across all states and territories, particularly from advocates like Vicki Durston of the Breast Cancer Network. The goal is to ensure that those at higher risk receive proper screening options appropriate to their breast density.
Despite this advancement in imaging, the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing highlighted that current recommendations do not endorse a singular optimal screening pathway for women with increased mammographic density. While mammograms remain the gold standard for breast cancer detection in Australia, additional imaging methods, such as the newly introduced Cone Beam Breast CT, are available but often come with extra costs outside the BreastScreen programme.
In conclusion, while the introduction of pain-free breast cancer CT scans marks an important step forward in breast cancer detection and treatment, ongoing efforts are needed to standardise access to such technology and its integration into national screening protocols.