Emerging Areas in Early Detection Research
Some tools under study for breast cancer screening and early detection are discussed below.
More research is needed to know whether these tools may play a role in breast cancer screening. Some may play a role in breast cancer screening, but only for certain groups of women at higher risk.
Artificial intelligence (AI) in mammography
Read our blog, All You Need to Know About AI-Assisted Mammograms.
AI computer models are trained on a large number of mammograms to learn which features of the images are likely to be signs of breast cancer.
There’s no standard AI model for reading mammograms. Rather, different researchers are studying different AI models that are trained on different sets of mammograms.
The goals of AI-supported (AI-assisted) mammography screening are:
- To improve screening accuracy
- To reduce the workload for radiologists
Researchers are studying whether AI can tell which mammograms show a low chance of breast cancer versus a higher chance of breast cancer [101]. Researchers are also studying whether AI can find as many breast cancers on mammograms as radiologists do [102-104,164]. However, it’s not clear how AI might become a part of breast cancer screening.
The use of AI in breast cancer screening is under study and is not part of standard care today.
Contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM)
Contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM) is a breast imaging technique. Compared to standard mammography, CEM makes a stronger contrast between a breast tumor and the surrounding tissue. Before the procedure, an IV will be placed and an iodine-based contrast agent will be given to enhance the tissues. The image is somewhat similar to a breast MRI image.
CEM is under study as a screening tool for women at higher risk of breast cancer, including women with dense breasts and those with a personal history of breast cancer [10,105-107]. Some findings show adding CEM to mammography can find more breast cancers than screening with mammography alone [10,105-107]. However, CEM can increase recall rates and the number of breast biopsies that turn out to be benign (not cancer) [10,105-107].
CEM is also under study for use as a follow-up test after an abnormal finding on a mammogram and for use in breast cancer staging after diagnosis [108-110].
More X- ray images of the breast are taken with CEM than with a standard mammogram, so there’s slightly more radiation exposure. Although uncommon, some people can have an allergic reaction to the contrast agent.
Possible risks of CEM
- A contrast agent is given by vein (through an IV) before the procedure. In rare cases, people can have an allergic reaction to the contrast agent.
- More X-ray images of the breast are taken than with a standard mammogram, so there’s slightly more radiation exposure.
CEM is not widely available.
Molecular breast imaging (nuclear medicine imaging of the breast)
Molecular breast imaging (also called nuclear medicine breast imaging) uses a short-term radioactive agent (called a tracer). The tracer is given through an IV into a vein and is absorbed into tissues, including the breast.
Breast cancer cells appear to absorb more of the tracer than healthy cells absorb. The cancer cells can then be imaged with a special camera.
A person getting molecular breast imaging is positioned in a similar way as with mammography. Each breast is pressed between 2 plates and the machine takes images.
Molecular breast imaging is under study for use in breast cancer screening, including screening for women with dense breasts [95,105-106]. It’s also under study for use in breast cancer diagnosis and staging.
Molecular breast imaging techniques include:
- Breast-specific gamma imaging (BSGI). The radioactive tracers used in BSGI emit gamma rays that are tracked by a special camera.
- Positron emission mammography (PEM). The radioactive tracers used in PEM are sugars. PEM uses positron emission tomography (PET), a test that shows how much sugar is consumed by cells, along with a special camera to image cells. Cancer cells tend to consume more sugar than normal cells and this can help identify tumors.
BSGI and PEM are not part of breast cancer screening guidelines.
Although they are still under study, BSGI and PEM are sometimes used in clinical practice, but are not widely available.
Molecular breast imaging and radiation exposure
A main concern about the use of BSGI and PEM for screening is the amount of radiation exposure to the whole body. Because the radiation in the tracer is delivered through an IV, other parts of the body (not just the breasts) are exposed to the radiation.
Even with modern machines, BSGI and PEM give a dose of radiation to the body that ranges from about 2 to 5 times higher than the dose from a mammogram [105,111-112].
Abbreviated breast MRI (AB-MRI, fast breast MRI)
Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses magnetic fields to create an image of the breast.
An abbreviated breast MRI (also called AB-MRI or fast MRI) takes fewer images than a typical breast MRI. Since fewer images are taken, an abbreviated MRI procedure is faster for the patient than a typical MRI. And, with fewer images, it takes less time for the radiologist to interpret the images than with a typical MRI.
As with a typical breast MRI, a contrast agent (gadolinium) is given through an IV into a vein before the procedure. In rare cases, people can have a reaction to gadolinium.
Whether abbreviated breast MRI is useful in breast cancer screening is under study [113-117].
Learn more about standard breast MRI.
Clinical trials of emerging screening methods
If you’re interested in joining a clinical trial studying new screening methods, talk with your health care provider.
Susan G. Komen® Patient Care Center |
If you or a loved one needs information or resources about clinical trials, the Patient Care Center can help. Contact the Komen Breast Care Helpline at 1-877-465-6636 or email clinicaltrialinfo@komen.org. The Patient Care Center navigators offer breast cancer clinical trial education and support, such as:
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BreastCancerTrials.org in collaboration with Komen offers a custom matching service to help you find clinical trials on breast cancer screening.
Learn what else Komen is doing to help people find and participate in breast cancer clinical trials, including trials supported by Komen.
Learn more about clinical trials.
Our commitment to research |
At Susan G. Komen®, we are committed to saving lives by meeting the most critical needs in our communities and investing in breakthrough research to prevent and cure breast cancer. Our Research Program is an essential driving force for achieving this mission. Since our inception in 1982, Komen has provided funding to support research grants that have greatly expanded our knowledge of breast cancer and helped us understand that breast cancer is not just a single disease but many diseases, unique to each individual. To date, Komen has provided nearly $1.1 billion to researchers in 47 states, the District of Columbia and 24 countries to support research that has resulted in a better understanding of breast cancer; earlier detection; personalized, less invasive treatments for what was once a “one-treatment-fits-all” disease; and improvements in both quality of life and survival rates. Learn more about our continuing investment in research and the exciting research that we are funding, because nothing would make us happier than ending breast cancer forever. |
A note about thermography
Thermography uses infrared light to measure temperature differences on the surface of the breast. However, there’s no solid scientific evidence thermography measures of heat can help find breast cancers [118].
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the American College of Radiology (ACR) and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) do not support the use of thermography as a breast cancer screening tool [3,119-120].
Since 2011, the FDA has issued consumer updates warning the public about misleading claims by thermography practitioners and manufacturers on the screening benefits of thermography [120]. To read the full 2023 update, visit the FDA website.
Susan G. Komen research spotlight
Komen funds research studying methods of early detection.
Big Data for Breast Cancer initiative
Komen’s Big Data for Breast Cancer (BD4BC) initiative supports programs and research that use big data to increase equity in high-quality breast cancer care to save lives.
For example, a Komen-funded research project is working to develop a risk prediction tool to identify women at high risk for having a breast cancer missed by mammography [121-123]. These women may be diagnosed with later-stage breast cancer despite regular mammography screening.
Learn more about Komen’s BD4BC initiative.
Updated 03/17/25
This content is regularly reviewed by an expert panel including researchers, practicing clinicians and patient advocates.
