Infrared Thermographic Imaging and Breast Screening
Infrared Thermographic Imaging Breast Screening is an image screening procedure that sees physiologic changes that go with breast pathology, whether it is cancer or a benign one. Thermography is much better than any other screening since it is a future risk indicator – a tool that can identify the potential for a cancer to form, there is no need to wait until something really happens.
In the early stages of breast cancer for example, a tumor develops additional capillaries to supply blood, a progression that can be picked up in its earliest stage by a thermogram. Once the screening is complete, a qualified doctor can then read the image and give a report in less then 24 hours after the screening.
Together with mammogram (a diagnostic procedure that uses low-dose x-rays to detect abnormalities in the breast), thermography gets the absolute best result. The early diagnosis of breast cancer increases a woman’s treatment alternatives and high percentage of recovering from the disease. The process of Medical Infrared Thermographic Imaging is a short and non-invasive image screening procedure. As short as 15 minutes, It is very comfortable, no physician or instrument contact and absolutely no radiation involved. It is a diagnostic tool that allows the examiner to see and quantify changes in skin surface temperature. It depends on the principle that all things at a temperature above absolute zero emit infrared energy.
The thermal imaging camera captures this energy and converts it into an image that can be viewed on a computer. Each half degree of temperature is assigned by a different color, resulting to an image that looks like a colored topographical map. The spectrum of colors shows an increase or decrease in the amount of infrared radiation being emitted from the body surface. Since there is high degree of thermal symmetry in the normal body, subtle abnormal temperature can be easily identified. Patients at almost any stage of their lives can benefit from the information derived from a thermogram.
Medical Infrared is also useful in continuing to monitor previously diagnose conditions. The benefits of Medical Infrared Imaging in breast scanning is that it offers the opportunity of earlier detection of breast disease that isn’t possible through breast self-examination, doctor examination or mammography alone. The protocol for breast screening includes five images, one from the front, one from each side (arms raised to include armpits and lymph area) and one from each oblique angle. The procedure is quick and painless, compared to other methods currently in use.
All women can benefit from thermal imaging breast screening. Younger women can start screening safely in their 20’s and 30’s. Older woman who still have dense breast tissue will find this procedure effective. Remember the earliest possible indication of abnormality allows for the earliest possible intervention and treatment. But it is important to know that this is not here to replace Mammograms. It is used in conjunction with mammograms and clinical breast exams to give the patient the opportunity to make decisions with as much information as possible.
by Lelani Sturdevant
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