How it works
Seven seconds of scanning. Zero pressure.
Here's exactly what happens during your 3D breast CT, from the moment you lie down to the report our radiologists send.
How it works
1 of 3
Nothing presses.
You lie face-down on a cushioned table. One breast rests through an opening, hanging naturally. No plates, no squeeze.
Your visit, step by step
Before your visit
- Call or book online. No doctor's referral needed. We'll help you get ready for your visit.
- Bring a photo ID and your most recent compression mammogram images and report. If you don't have them, tell us where it was done and we'll help request them.
- Tell us if you are pregnant, may be pregnant, or are breastfeeding, or if lying face-down is difficult for you.
On the day
- Wear a two-piece outfit; you'll change into a gown for the top. Unlike a compression mammogram, deodorant, lotion and powder are fine.
During your scan
- Jewelry can stay on, but let us know if you have nipple piercings.
- You'll lie face-down on a cushioned table. One breast rests through an opening, hanging naturally.
- Nothing presses on your breast. The scanner circles beneath the table in about seven seconds.
- Then the same for the other side. Your technologist guides you through each step.
After your scan
- There's no recovery time. You can go straight back to your day.
- A fellowship-trained breast radiologist reviews your images in 3D.
- Your report goes to you and your physician. If anything needs a closer look, we'll help you coordinate next steps with your care team.
Try it
Seven seconds is shorter than you think.
That's how long you stay still for each breast. Press start, turn your sound on, and hear what the scanner sounds like.
Your whole appointment takes about 15 minutes.
Side by side
How breast CT differs from a compression mammogram.
See the difference
The same patient. Two very different pictures.
This patient's cancer sat deep in the breast, close to the chest wall, an area a compression mammogram can have trouble reaching. Breast CT imaged the whole breast back to the chest wall, where the mass is clearly visible.
On a compression mammogram, dense tissue and possible findings both appear white, so they can overlap on a flat image. Breast CT captures the breast as a 3D volume, so our radiologists can look through it slice by slice instead of through overlapping layers.
Breast CT and compression mammogram from the same patient. Images de-identified and shared by our physicians. Views are not perfectly aligned. Individual results vary.
Safety
Radiation
About 5.8 mGy per breast, within the range of a diagnostic compression mammogram (4.3 to 10 mGy) and far less than a full-body CT.
FDA-approved
Our breast CT system was FDA-approved in 2015.
Seven seconds
Each breast is scanned in about seven seconds while you lie still. Then you're done.
What breast CT can and can't do
No imaging test is perfect, and we'd rather you hear it from us. Very fine or faint calcifications can sometimes be clearer on a compression mammogram, so our radiologists may recommend additional or alternative options. In some women, tissue very close to the chest wall or up toward the armpit can be harder to capture with any breast imaging system, including breast CT. Sometimes ultrasound is also helpful in evaluating a breast abnormality. If our radiologists recommend additional imaging, we'll help you coordinate it.
He et al., European Journal of Radiology, 2016; Liu et al., Acta Radiologica, 2023.
A calmer way to do your yearly breast imaging.
No plates, no squeeze, and a true 3D picture read by a fellowship-trained breast radiologist. Talk with your doctor about the breast imaging plan that's right for you.
No compression
You lie face-down and nothing presses on your breast.
True 3D
Our radiologists can view the whole breast from every angle.
Ready when you are.
We'd love to welcome you to our Lovers Lane office. Choose a time that works for you, and we'll take care of you from the moment you arrive.