Infrared (Thermographic) Breast Mammography is a safe, non ionizing non contact study of breast skin temperature that is a useful adjunct in the detection of physiologic changes associated with breast cancer.
Cancer cells need increased blood flow (angiogenesis) in order to “take” over surrounding breast tissue. They also have an increased metabolic rate, which translates into an increase in temperature compared to surrounding normal tissue. By studying breast tissue with infrared imaging early changes in blood flow can be detected and progressive changes can be assessed over time.
In 1997 Gamagami, Silverstein & Waisman published that 1.Angiogenesis was the first sign appearing on mammography before the appearance of image of breast cancer, predicting in 91 % of the cases which breast might develop breast carcinoma. This is an important finding in the detection of the early stages of breast cancer development.
2. Infra-red imaging goes hand in hand with mammography. Hypervascularity and hyperthermia could be shown in 86% of non-palpable breast cancer. In 15% it helped to detect the cancer upon an unsuspicious image on mammography.
3. Infra-red imaging was found to be the only test showing the efficiency of chemotherapy in inflammatory breast carcinoma.
While Breast Thermography is not a stand alone tool in the diagnosis of breast cancer no screening tool (including X-ray mammography and Ultrasound) provides excellent predictability when used by itself. A combination of tools that incorporates Infrared Thermography has been shown to boost both sensitivity and specificity.
In an 4 year, five institution article published in the American Journal of Radiology (2003) the authors concluded that Infrared Mammography is a safe noninvasive procedure that is valuable as an adjunct to X-Ray Mammography in determining whether a lesion is benign or malignant.
There was 97% sensitivity when identified lesions were biopsied, however only a 14% specificity. This means that Infrared Mammography is very sensitive at breast cancer detection, however identified lesions are most often not cancer (usually they are microcalcifications).
There was also a 95% negative predictive value, and a 24% positive predictive value. This means that if an Infrared Mammogram is negative there is a 95% chance that there is no cancer and that if it is positive that there is a 24% chance that cancer may later be discovered.
Likewise, in 2008 The American Journal of Surgery (pages 523-526) published that Infrared Mammography identified 58 of 60 malignancies, with 97% sensitivity, 44% specificity, and 82% negative predictive value. The authors concluded that Infrared Mammography is a valuable adjunct to X-ray mammography and ultrasound, especially in women with dense breast tissue.
At Piedmont Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, PA we utilize Infrared Thermographic Breast Mammography as part of our comprehensive Medical Infrared Imaging Center and Cancer Rehabilitation Medicine program.
Infrared Thermographic Breast Mammography
Thermographic breast images:
(A) normal; (B) showing
early stage of cancer in the right breast; (C) showing advanced cancer in the left breast
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