About 80% of breast cancer biopsies turn out benign – new imaging tool promises clearer diagnoses and fewer biopsies

Ultrasound is often used in breast cancer screening, but it can often provide inconclusive results. Combining it with near-infrared light can help patients avoid the anxiety and cost of a biopsy.

By: Quing Zhu, Washington University in St. Louis, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: April 6, 2026

Words: 715

Last Updated: 3 months, 3 weeks ago

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By Quing Zhu, Washington University in St. Louis

Ultrasound is widely used in breast cancer diagnosis. While it can effectively show that a lump is filled with fluid – indicating it is unlikely to be cancer – it cannot reliably determine whether a solid mass is benign or cancerous. This often leads doctors to order breast biopsies to confirm the presence of cancer.

However, most breast biopsies do not detect cancer. In the U.S., more …

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