Why supplemental breast imaging matters
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. Survival outcomes greatly improve with earlier detection, which motivates yearly screening. In the US, 3D Mammography is the screening standard and widely available, with over 9,000 facilities certified to conduct these exams. However, patients with dense breasts (greater amounts of gland tissue) are at risk of breast cancer being missed by 3D Mammography. For people with dense breasts, higher risk, or who need a different kind of exam, supplemental breast imaging can provide information standard mammography alone may miss.
If your mammogram report indicated dense breast status, supplemental imaging could decrease the risk of missed breast cancer.
This resource provides a brief overview of the most common types of supplemental breast imaging, and a tool for locating facilities with these capabilities. In contrast to the wide availability of 3D Mammography, facilities with supplemental imaging capabilities are less common. The map below, while not definitive, can assist with locating these lifesaving resources.
Most common breast imaging methods
Click an image to learn more about each breast imaging method.
-
3D Mammography
The standard breast screening exam, available at nearly every mammography facility. It is fast and needs no contrast injection, but it is less effective in dense breasts, where tissue can hide cancer.
-
Breast MRI
The leading supplemental exam, recommended yearly for dense breasts or high risk. Uses contrast. Variants include:
- Abbreviated MRI: ~10-minute scan, lower cost.
- Open MRI: devices with very large openings that help with claustrophobia.
-
Contrast-Enhanced Mammography
Uses an iodine contrast agent during a mammogram to highlight areas with increased blood flow. Performance comparable to Breast MRI, while lower cost (average cost similar to Abbreviated MRI).
-
Automated Whole-Breast Ultrasound
The only supplemental imaging listed here that does not require injection, but smallest improvement. These systems scan the entire breast in standardized 3D views.
-
Molecular Breast Imaging
Least common of the listed supplemental imaging, uses radioactive tracers and breast gamma cameras to show metabolically active tissue.
Images, left to right: Mumin et al., Sci Rep 2019, Drinković et al., Cancers 2022, Bartolović et al., Diagnostics 2024, Mostafa et al., Egypt J Radiol Nucl Med 2019, and van Loevezijn et al., Nucl Med Commun 2023; licensed under CC BY 4.0. Images were cropped, mirrored or rotated, window-leveled, and on-screen text and guide lines were removed.
Facility supplemental capability map
This is not a definitive list. Capability information was gathered from public sources and needs additional data collection to be complete. A facility not shown for a capability may still offer it. Facilities are welcome to reach out to have their information added or updated.
Which exam(s) are right for you depends on your history, risk factors, and breast density — your doctor and the Additional Resources referenced lower on this page can help you decide. Always confirm services, scheduling, and insurance coverage directly with the facility. This webpage is for information only and is not medical advice.
Search near a ZIP code
Show facilities with
Matching facilities in view
About the data. Facility list: U.S. FDA Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA) certified facility file, dated . Capability flags come from facility and health-system web pages, news reports, state equipment registries, imaging price directories, and 2024 Medicare claims data (breast MRI billed at a facility's address), each linked in the facility details. Facilities not on the FDA list (for example, MRI-only imaging centers) were added where found. Map locations are geocoded from street addresses; a few are approximate.