A new cone-beam breast CT scanner that scans each breast in about 10 seconds without compression has been approved for commercial use in Australia, with Brisbane Radiology the first Australian clinic to introduce it. The Koning Vera device, approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration in September, produces detailed 3D images while the patient lies face down. Doctors say it offers another option for women with dense breasts or those who avoid mammograms because of discomfort.
Patient Belinda Yates, who has dense breast tissue and had previously undergone mammograms and breast MRIs, said the experience was markedly different. “This scan has been a game changer for me. I have very dense breast tissue. There’s no pain. The discomfort was non-existent,” she said, contrasting it with her earlier mammogram, which she described as “very crushing and quite painful”.
Breast surgeon Dr Beth Campbell said dense breast tissue could make cancers hard to distinguish on mammograms, comparing it to trying to see stars through cloud cover. “What the contrast does is it gets rid of that cloud cover so we can actually see behind to detect cancers when they’re smaller.” She recalled a patient with a large lump and a normal mammogram: “The density on her mammogram was so intense that we actually couldn’t see anything. So we put her through the cone beam scanner and when I eventually did her surgery, she had seven breast cancers in that breast.”
Breast surgeon Dr Ben Green said the images could reveal that a cancer is more extensive than a standard mammogram suggests. “We can see that extra disease and in a single operation we can change the actual nature of that surgery and reduce that need for a second operation.” He noted that MRI remains useful for some cancers but could take 20 to 40 minutes and be difficult for claustrophobic patients.
Campbell described the scanner as another tool. “I think it’s not going to replace mammography. It’s not going to replace MRI. It’s going to be another tool in our toolbox for picking up cancers early.” Green said: “It’s too early to say it’s going to replace mammograms, but I think in time it definitely will. We find the test invaluable and patient satisfaction speaks for itself. We’ve got a cohort of patients who refuse imaging because compression hurts, and we’ve got women then who would go undiagnosed and now getting access to early diagnosis.”
Clinic owner Angela Sclavos said eligible patients could receive a Medicare rebate, with an out-of-pocket cost of about $300, similar to a private mammogram. Free screening mammograms remain available through BreastScreen Australia without a GP referral. Campbell hopes the scan without compression will encourage women avoiding checks to come forward. “The earlier we pick up breast cancers, the easier they are to treat.”
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Australian women; early detection improves survival, but many avoid mammograms due to pain.
- About 40% of women have dense breast tissue, which can hide cancers on standard mammograms; this scanner provides another imaging option.
- The technology could reduce the need for repeat surgeries and help catch cancers earlier, potentially lowering treatment costs and improving outcomes.
Background
Cone-beam breast CT is a form of dedicated breast imaging that produces high-resolution 3D images. Unlike mammography, it does not require breast compression, and the scan time is about 10 seconds per breast. The Koning Vera system has been used in other countries but only gained TGA approval for commercial supply in Australia in September 2026. Brisbane Radiology is the first Australian clinic to offer it, and the device is available by GP referral. It is not yet part of the national BreastScreen program.
Key Perspectives
Belinda Yates (patient): Found the scan pain-free and a “game changer” compared to her previous mammogram, which she called “very crushing and quite painful”.
Dr Beth Campbell (breast surgeon): Says the scanner is an additional tool that can reveal cancers hidden in dense tissue, but cautions more evidence in Australian patients is needed. She does not see it replacing mammography or MRI.
Dr Ben Green (breast surgeon): Believes the scanner could eventually replace mammograms; says it reduces the need for second operations and encourages women who avoid imaging due to pain to get screened.
Angela Sclavos (clinic owner): Notes the out-of-pocket cost is around $300 with a Medicare rebate, and that a GP referral is all that is needed.
What to Watch
- Whether more Australian clinics adopt the technology and whether the Medicare rebate expands to cover a wider range of patients.
- The collection of Australian patient data to build evidence for the scanner’s effectiveness compared with mammography and MRI.
- Any move by BreastScreen Australia to incorporate cone-beam breast CT into the national screening program, which would improve access and reduce cost barriers.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedThe Koning Vera scanner scans each breast in about 10 seconds without painful compression.7NEWS: “with each breast scanned in about 10 seconds. Doctors say it offers another option for women with dense breasts, and those avoiding mammograms because of discomfort.”
- SupportedThe TGA approved the system in September, allowing commercial supply in Australia.7NEWS: “in September, when the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved the system’s inclusion in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods. That allows commercial supply in Australia”
- SupportedBrisbane Radiology was the first Australian clinic to introduce the technology.7NEWS: “Brisbane Radiology was the first Australian clinic to introduce the technology.”
- SupportedThe device could help uncover cancers hidden by dense breast tissue.7NEWS: “A breast scan that takes just seconds and avoids painful compressions could help Australian doctors uncover hidden cancers”
- SupportedThe technology could spare some patients repeat surgery.7NEWS: “could help Australian doctors uncover hidden cancers and spare some patients repeat surgery.”
- SupportedThe scanner offers another option for women with dense breasts or those avoiding mammograms because of discomfort.7NEWS: “Doctors say it offers another option for women with dense breasts, and those avoiding mammograms because of discomfort.”
- SupportedBelinda Yates said, “This scan has been a game changer for me. I have very dense breast tissue. There’s no pain. The discomfort was non-existent.”7NEWS: ““This scan has been a game changer for me. I have very dense breast tissue. There’s no pain. The discomfort was non-existent,” she told 7NEWS.”
- SupportedCampbell said a patient with a large lump and a normal mammogram was found to have seven breast cancers in that breast after surgery.7NEWS: ““So we put her through the cone beam scanner and when I eventually did her surgery, she had seven breast cancers in that breast.””
- SupportedGreen said the images could reveal more extensive cancer and help avoid a second operation.7NEWS: ““We can see that extra disease and in a single operation we can change the actual nature of that surgery and reduce that need for a second operation,” Green told 7NEWS.”
- SupportedGreen said MRI remains useful for some cancers, but could take 20 to 40 minutes and be difficult for patients with claustrophobia.7NEWS: “He said that MRI remains useful for some cancers, but could take 20 to 40 minutes and be difficult for patients with claustrophobia.”
- SupportedGreen said it was too early to say the scanner would replace mammograms, but thought it would eventually.7NEWS: ““It’s too early to say it’s going to replace mammograms, but I think in time it definitely will,” he said.”
- SupportedEligible patients could receive a Medicare rebate, with an out-of-pocket cost of about $300, similar to a private mammogram.7NEWS: “Sclavos said eligible patients could receive a Medicare rebate, but it is a similar cost to a private mammogram. “It’s around $300 for the out-of-pocket cost for this technology, as long as you’re eligible for the MBS,” Sclavos said.”
