In 2025, an estimated 316,950 U.S. women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, with a growing number under the age of 40. All told: one in eight American women will face breast cancer in her lifetime.

Sobering statistics, yes. But there's a more hopeful story unfolding at the same time. Survival rates have surged 40% since the '90s — a testament to massive strides made in early detection and treatment. As patient volumes rise and workforce shortages persist, next-generation mammography technology and an emphasis on personalized care are changing what it means to face a breast cancer diagnosis.

“Provider priorities have expanded beyond cancer detection to address a broader range of patient needs,” said Mark Horvath, president of breast and skeletal health solutions at Hologic. “We’re glad to see that breast density education is becoming a more common conversation."

Growing awareness around breast density is part of the broader emphasis on assessing each patient based on their individual needs, including the adoption of diagnostic tools such as contrast-enhanced mammography.

“Providers are increasingly focused on delivering personalized, efficient care,” said Pooja Pathak, vice president and general manager of mammography at GE HealthCare, “despite staffing shortages, which continue to add complexity.”

These shortages are also accelerating the integration of one of the most transformative innovations in mammography: artificial intelligence.

AI as the new copilot
Perhaps in no other area of radiology has AI made the kind of strides it has in breast imaging. It is the central force reshaping breast imaging workflows; prioritizing cases, automating acquisition, and enhancing interpretation. For providers facing overwhelming caseloads and burnout, this evolution is seen as a game-changer.

“The workforce crisis in radiology is real and urgent,” says Horvath, underscoring the mounting supply-demand imbalance in healthcare facilities. “AI can play a key role in addressing staffing constraints."

Pathak likens AI to a co-pilot, helping to reduce clinician burnout while minimizing the risk of missed diagnoses. GE HealthCare, she explains, is incorporating AI into its mammography systems to streamline interpretation, boosting both sensitivity and specificity. “This enhances diagnostic accuracy and enables radiologists and technologists to focus on higher-priority tasks.”

Hologic is embracing AI via its Genius AI Detection PRO solution, which uses color-coded triaging based on case complexity and auto-populated reporting. The software’s deep learning algorithm analyzes both prior and current mammograms in 2D and digital breast tomosynthesis, enhancing accuracy and reducing false recall rates. Horvath points to measurable improvements, including a 24% reduction in reading time and fatigue.

Hologic’s 3DQuorum imaging technology utilizes Genius AI-powered analytics to generate 6mm SmartSlices, reducing the image count by two-thirds compared to the traditional 1 mm slices and saving radiologists an hour of interpretation time each day without compromising image quality or accuracy.

“Ultimately, AI will help enhance confidence and consistency for technologists and radiologists,” says Christie Devine, product manager for women’s health at Siemens Healthineers. For example, she says, AI can recommend that a radiologist tackle more complex cases when they are most alert — perhaps after their morning coffee — or later in the day for night owls.

The goal is to align tasks with a radiologist’s natural rhythm, optimizing both workflow and effectiveness. Siemens Healthineers’ Mammomat B.brilliant platform illustrates this integration, Devine says. By merging AI with workflow improvements, it automates routine tasks, helping facilities manage higher volumes without sacrificing care quality.

Devine highlights a Virginia case where the Mammomat B.brilliant boosted mammography capacity by eight slots per day, adding 2,000 patients annually, despite reduced hours, from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. instead of 7 p.m. The platform also lowered labor costs and enhanced patient access, which Devine cites as top priorities. “It’s about increasing patient volume without overloading staff,” she says. After all, “sustainability and efficiency are now key ROI metrics.”

The latter, radiologist efficiency in particular, can be hindered by the time spent reviewing routine cases. Fujifilm Healthcare Americas Corporation’s director of marketing for women’s health, Christine Murray, notes that AI can prioritize more suspicious cases, freeing radiologists to focus on what matters most. “AI can triage cases to ensure radiologists focus on higher-priority tasks,” she says.

The implications for mammography are profound, Murray emphasizes. Devine concurs: “It can only get better from here.”

Comfort and accessibility take center stage
Despite technological progress, many women still avoid mammograms, often citing discomfort as a primary reason. “Pain is one of the top five reasons women skip mammograms,” says Murray. Fujifilm’s ASPIRE Cristalle system addresses this issue by using patented paddles that flex in four directions, reducing compression by 30% without sacrificing image quality.

“Compression may never be completely comfortable, but our paddles eliminate the neck-pulling sensation that contributes to discomfort,” she adds. The system also includes customizable gantry wraps and mood lighting; features that can significantly ease anxiety for mammography patients.

Devine puts it bluntly: “If innovation can’t keep up with patient comfort, then we’re using innovation the wrong way.” Siemens Healthineers, she notes, integrates its proprietary OP Comp technology into its mammography systems, adjusting compression pressure to better suit each patient’s needs. The company’s rounded paddles, which distribute pressure more evenly across the breast tissue, and personalized mood lighting further enhance patient comfort.

When patients are comfortable, they’re more likely to return for their next screening — or even come in for their first one,” Devine says.

A Harris Poll survey commissioned by Hologic found that nearly half of U.S. women recommended for mammograms reported skipping or delaying the procedure, often due to fear of pain. To combat this, Hologic launched its #BustTheMyth campaign to dispel misconceptions and raise awareness about breast health.

“We’ve sought to develop products that make the exam process as comfortable as possible,” says Horvath. He points to Hologic’s 3Dimensions system with the SmartCurve paddle, which aligns with the breast’s natural contour and reduces discomfort by compressing for less than four seconds. The Envision Mammography Platform also includes Tilt positioning, pivoting ±10º to improve tissue capture and comfort for patients who use a wheelchair.

Horvath calls this a major innovation, noting that mammography compliance rates are 47% lower among women who use wheelchairs. “A comfortable exam shouldn’t be limited by mobility,” he adds.

Nor should exams be limited by accessibility, Pathak emphasizes. GE HealthCare, she says, is leveraging mobile imaging units and AI-driven triage tools to extend coverage into underserved regions. “Improving accessibility as well as comfort is central to our innovation strategy.” Pathak points to the company’s Senographe Pristina platform, including Pristina Via, designed with patient input to reduce anxiety and physical discomfort. Features like ergonomic design and patient-assisted compression are central to this effort, she says.

“Our goal is to make mammography not just more accurate, but more personalized, so patients feel seen, heard, and cared for,” Pathak says.

Improvements aside, barriers to access persist, particularly among women ages 40 to 49, who are increasingly skipping routine screenings. “We’re seeing an uptick in later-stage cancers being diagnosed,” Murray says. “We’re not finding them as early.” She also notes the rise in metastatic disease, a trend she finds troubling. “Given how far we’ve come, I sometimes look at the data and think, ‘wow, we still have a long way to go.’”

Still, Murray remains optimistic about the future of breast imaging, especially with contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM). “CEM is functional imaging,” she explains. “It improves sensitivity and specificity over traditional mammography, and in some cases, it may even rival breast MRI.” She anticipates broader adoption of CEM, particularly in rural areas with limited access to MRI.

While tomosynthesis was once considered a solution for dense breast tissue, it hasn’t fully replaced the need for MRI or ultrasound. CEM, she says, fills that gap, offering a more accessible and effective alternative for early breast cancer detection.

The future of breast imaging
Early detection certainly remains the goal, but experts Mark Horvath, Pooja Pathak, Christie Devine, and Christine Murray all see the future of breast imaging shifting toward prevention and personalization.

Pathak envisions a future of multimodal imaging—combining mammography, ultrasound, MRI, and molecular diagnostics, all powered by AI to create personalized risk profiles. Devine predicts that decision support tools will integrate genetics, breast density, and prior imaging to refine screening recommendations. “We’ve already seen the use of decision support tools outside of breast imaging, and this trend is set to grow in the field,” she says.

The shift toward wide-angle technology also excites Devine. In tomosynthesis, she says, wide-angle technology improves tissue separation and depth resolution, marking a major leap forward in breast screening.

Ultimately, transformative change is on the horizon, according to Horvath. “AI may move beyond detection to predictive analytics; integrating genetic data, imaging findings, and clinical history to assess individual risk,” he says. He also points out that the “one-size-fits-all” approach to screening is ending, and imaging frequency and modality may be increasingly tailored to each woman’s unique risk factors.

Horvath envisions a more connected ecosystem, moving beyond stand-alone systems to create comprehensive breast health networks. “Imaging, AI, clinical data, and patient engagement tools will work seamlessly together,” he says.

The future of breast imaging, he asserts, lies in precision, comfort, and connection.

As Pathak puts it, the goal is clear: “to ensure breast imaging not only detects disease but helps prevent it.” With AI, patient-centered design, and a focus on equity, these innovations are poised to do just that — making breast care more personalized, accessible, and effective.