Breast Monitoring Technology

QT Scan

Researchers have developed an advanced AI-powered ultrasound tomography method that produces clearer, higher-resolution images of breast tissue than traditional techniques: Quantitative Transmission Imaging.

QT Scan combines sound speed maps with ultrasound data from multiple angles, this new approach provides more detailed and reliable attenuation maps—key for distinguishing between normal tissue, cysts, and cancer. Unlike older methods that can be noisy or blurry, this technology sharpens boundaries and reduces errors, making it easier for doctors to spot and characterize abnormalities. QT Imaging’s scan uses this innovative approach to give women a safer, radiation-free, and more comfortable option for breast cancer screening and monitoring, with the potential to catch problems earlier and guide better treatment decisions.

QT – Quantitative Transmission Imaging is an innovative breast imaging technology that utilizes low-frequency sound waves to create detailed 3D images of breast tissue. QT Imaging uses quantitative transmission ultrasound, which creates detailed 3D maps of breast tissue without radiation or compression. Unlike standard ultrasound, it measures how sound waves pass through tissue, improving accuracy, providing data on tissue composition and density, aiding in distinguishing between benign and malignant lesions.

FDA-cleared for whole-breast imaging.
No radiation, compression, or injections required.
Offers high-resolution images with quantitative tissue characterization.
Particularly beneficial for women with dense breast tissue.

Currently available in select clinics across the U.S with new clinics opening each year! Take a look at Breast Imaging Modality Comparison Case Studies to see how QT images compare.

QT Imaging Reaches Major Milestone with New AMA CPT Code

In February 2026, QT Imaging Holdings, Inc. announced a major advancement: the American Medical Association approved a new Category III CPT code (X579T) for its 3D breast ultrasound tomography.

This milestone formally recognizes QT Imaging’s radiation-free, compression-free breast imaging technology as a distinct clinical service. The new code enables standardized reporting, data collection, and utilization tracking, allowing clinicians, researchers, and healthcare systems to further evaluate its role in breast health.

The code is scheduled for release on July 1, 2026, and will become effective on January 1, 2027, opening the door for future billing pathways and broader adoption within hospitals and clinical settings.

Why This Matters for DCIS

For women seeking long term monitoring, this is more than a technical update, it represents progress toward safer, more transparent breast imaging options.

Recognition of a new approach: QT Scan’s ability to image the breast without radiation or compression is now formally acknowledged within the medical system.
Pathway to access: CPT codes are a key step toward insurance consideration, which may improve affordability over time.
More data, better decisions: Standardized tracking allows for ongoing evaluation of effectiveness, helping patients and providers make more informed choices.

How You Can Support

For years, women have had limited screening choices, often centered around technologies that involve radiation exposure, discomfort, and high rates of false positives.

This milestone signals a shift.

It acknowledges that innovation in breast imaging matters, especially technologies designed to be safer, more comfortable, and repeatable over time.

However, access remains a critical issue.

While this CPT code lays the groundwork for future coverage, many women still face out-of-pocket costs today with average scan costing $600-$800. That’s why advocacy, and programs like our imaging scholarships — remain essential to ensure that safer options are not limited to those who can afford them.

Summary of The Future of Breast Screening

A Scientific and Moral Justification for QT Imaging
By Dr. Joel Fuhrman and Dr. Cara Fuhrman

This booklet argues that advances in breast imaging should prioritize patient safety, diagnostic accuracy, and reducing unnecessary harm. It presents QT Imaging (Quantitative Transmission Ultrasound) as a promising technology that could complement or, in some situations, eventually replace conventional mammography.

Key Messages

1. Breast cancer screening should continue to evolve.
The authors argue that while mammography has saved lives, it also has recognized limitations, including reduced sensitivity in dense breast tissue, exposure to ionizing radiation, false-positive results, and the potential for overdiagnosis and overtreatment.

2. QT Imaging represents a new generation of breast imaging.
The booklet explains that QT Imaging:

Uses sound waves instead of ionizing radiation.
Requires no breast compression, making the exam more comfortable.
Produces true 3D images of the entire breast.
Measures quantitative tissue properties rather than relying solely on image appearance.
Is particularly promising for women with dense breast tissue.

3. Quantitative data may improve diagnosis.
Rather than producing only anatomical images, QT Imaging collects measurable information about breast tissue, including characteristics such as sound speed and attenuation. The authors suggest these objective measurements could improve lesion characterization and support future AI-assisted interpretation.

4. A moral case for safer imaging.
The booklet argues that when technologies can provide comparable or improved diagnostic information while reducing radiation exposure, discomfort, and unnecessary procedures, healthcare should seriously consider adopting them. The authors frame this as both a scientific and ethical responsibility.

5. The future will likely involve multiple imaging options.
Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, the booklet envisions more personalized breast screening based on individual risk factors, breast density, and the strengths of different imaging technologies.

Main Takeaway

The booklet encourages readers to think beyond traditional mammography and consider how emerging technologies like QT Imaging could help create a future of breast screening that is:

Safer (no radiation)
More comfortable (no compression)
More informative (quantitative 3D data)
Better suited for women with dense breasts
Better positioned to support precision medicine and artificial intelligence

Important Context

The booklet is intended as an educational and advocacy resource. Additional clinical studies are ongoing to evaluate its role in breast cancer screening and diagnosis. Readers should discuss screening options with their healthcare provider based on their individual risk factors and medical history.

QT SCAN IN THE NEWS

QT Imaging’s FDA 510(k) clearances:

June 6, 2017 — K162372
QT Ultrasound Breast Scanner-1 Initial FDA 510(k) clearance for reflection-mode and transmission-mode breast ultrasound imaging.
October 18, 2019 — K190646
QT Scanner 2000 Model A FDA 510(k) clearance.
August 31, 2022 — K220933
QT Scanner 2000 Model A Clearance that added software for calculating fibroglandular tissue volume (FGV) and the FGV-to-total-breast-volume ratio (FGV/TBV).
March 4, 2026 — K253898
QT Scanner 2000 Model A Special 510(k) clearance for a modified configuration designed to improve posterior breast tissue coverage.

One other filing worth noting:

2018 — K182213 was a Special 510(k) modification to the original K162372 device. It is not a separate new clearance in the same sense as the four above.