Painless breast scanner now available in Australia to detect hidden cancers
A painless breast scanner approved by the TGA is now available at Australian clinics.
The Koning Vera cone beam breast CT scanner produces three-dimensional images while patients lie face down with no squeezing or discomfort. The scanner offers relief for women who avoid mammograms because of pain.
A 10-second scan reveals what traditional mammograms miss, especially in dense breast tissue. Brisbane Radiology was the first Australian clinic to introduce it.
Patients are now eligible for Medicare rebates. Breast surgeon Dr Beth Campbell compared dense tissue to trying to see stars through cloud cover.
She recalled a patient with a normal mammogram who actually had seven breast cancers in that breast. The scanner found them.
The cone beam scanner is an additional tool, not a replacement for existing screening. It could reveal extra disease and reduce the need for repeat surgery.
The out-of-pocket cost is around $300 for eligible patients, similar to a private mammogram.
- About 10 seconds
- Scan time per breast
- Brisbane Radiology
- First Australian clinic
- Around 300 dollars
- Out-of-pocket cost
- Seven
- Cancers in one case
Why it mattersWomen who have been avoiding breast checks because of pain now have a painless option, and surgeons can detect more extensive disease in a single scan, cutting the need for a second operation.
AustraliaAustralian women with dense breasts or compression-related anxiety can now access a faster, painless imaging option through their GP, and Medicare support makes it affordable.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 11 h ago
