Optimizing Non-Invasive Early Breast Cancer Screening: A Review of the Role of Tactile Imaging and Ultrasound in Primary Care

(1) Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and a leading cause of death, particularly in high-burden countries like the U.S., China, and India. While mammography is the standard screening tool, its accessibility is limited in rural and low-resource areas due to cost, infrastructure, and workforce shortages. Ultrasound, though useful especially for dense breast tissue, faces challenges with operator dependence and inconsistent accuracy; (2) Methods: These challenges highlight the need for more accessible, affordable, and operator-independent solutions deployed at the primary care level. Tactile Imaging, a non-invasive technology that maps tissue elasticity, offers a promising complement to ultrasound ; (3) Results: This review evaluates breast cancer screening models and how TI–US hybrid technology can address diagnostic gap through integrating the biomechanical advantages of TI such as tissue elasticity mapping with the anatomical detail from ultrasound.; (4) Conclusion: The hybrid system enables practitioners to assess lesion elasticity, acutance, and mobility key malignancy indicators. While ultrasound identifies structural features and fluid-filled cysts, TI quantifies mechanical tissue properties. Together, they reduce false negatives (0–6% TI, 1.75% US) and false positives (10–15% TI, 4–10% US), improving diagnostic accuracy and confidence. TI–US systems streamline point-of-care workflows, reducing unnecessary referrals and enabling earlier detection especially impactful in primary care settings across China, India, and similar healthcare environments.