What is Thermography?

Thermography is a medical imaging technique. Thermography is used extensively in France, Sweden, and Japan, as a first-line screening procedures assessing breast health and can be used to help determine dental and sinus infections as well fibromyalgia. In the United States of America the FDA has approved thermography as an adjunctive tool for screening and diagnosing breast cancer.

Thermography is radiation free, avoids painful compression of the breast tissue, and is noninvasive. Thermography works by measuring the heat (infrared radiation), which is constantly radiating away from the surface of the human skin. An increase in the emission of heat can be indicative of a potential source of infection or tumor growth.

A specialized digital infrared-sensing camera collects the thermography scans and high-speed computer is used to measure and capture the scans of the heat radiated from the body.

Who may use?

Who can get screened with thermography?
Thermography can be done for any age group and for both gender. As thermography is radiation free as well as free from harmful chemicals there are no risks in having repeated thermography imaging done.

Thermography scans can help identify areas of pain, inflammation and potential angiogenesis risks. At Nielsen Clinic we offer, breast, cranial and full body thermography.

Breast Thermography
Breast thermography should be included as part of her regular breast health care. If breast cancer is detected and treated in the earliest stages, cure rates greater than 95% are possible.

In younger females, breast cancers can be particularly aggressive. With the incidence of breast cancer on the risk and the mortality rate having minimal change, it is important to be proactive. According to the American Cancer Society “Breast Cancer Guidelines and Statistics” printed in 2005; 15% of all breast cancers can occur between the ages of 20 to 44. 

BREAST THERMOGRAPHY GUIDELINES FOR TESTING
Initial Thermography scans by age 20.
20-30 years of age: every 3 years
30 years of age and over: every year

CRANIAL THERMOGRAPHY GUIDELINES FOR TESTING
For chronic sinus or dental pains.
Individuals who have had extensive dental work and still are experiencing dental concerns.

FULL BODY THERMOGRAPHY

Useful for determining areas of inflammation and includes breast and cranial thermography.

Breast Thermography

Breast Thermography
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. Early detection of breast cancer is important to every woman, regardless of risk factors.

Studies have clearly shown the smaller the size of the breast cancer, the chances for long-term survival improves. Smaller breast cancer cases are less likely to have the cancer spread to lymph nodes, lungs, liver, bones and brain.

Females with small or large breast tissue as well as lumpy breast will be pleased to know that thermography can still help provide you with establishing a risk baseline assessment.

Thermography is beneficial for any females over 18 years old. A baseline thermography scan for all women by age 40 is recommended. Those who have “lumpy breast” or have a high risk of developing breast cancer should have a baseline at 35 years old.

Angiogenesis and Breast Thermography: Breast Cancer increased risk detectable due to angiogenesis.

Angiogenesis is the process in which new blood vessels grow from pre-existing blood vessels. The growth of new blood vessels is vital to help heal wounds and trauma. However, as we get older the process of angiogenesis is often seen in disease processes, such as breast cancer, arthritis as well as heart disease is just a few items.   

Widespread laboratory and clinical data shows that angiogenesis plays a role in the development, invasion and in spreading cancer to other parts of the body (Schneider & Miller, 2005).

In breast cancer the growth and spread of tumors depends on the body’s ability to grow new blood vessels. The growth of new blood vessels helps provide nutrition and oxygen for solid tumors to grow and survive (Blesa, Pludio, Pulla, Canales, & Candel, 2008).

The formations of new blood vessels from pre-existing blood vessels occur through complex processes. These processes involve several activities which increase and restrain the growth of new blood vessel, such as oxygen sensory, inflammatory sensors and many others (Guidi, Schnitt , & Fischer, 1997). For a tumor cell to activate and survive they require new blood vessels and is controlled by an angiogenic switch (Blesa, Pludio, Pulla, Canales, & Candel, 2008).

In the mid-1950s it was known that tumors located further than 0.2mm from an arrangement of blood vessels were unable to thrive (Blesa, Pludio, Pulla, Canales, & Candel, 2008). The lack of oxygen and nutrition available for the tumor cell would prevent further growth.

Precancerous and cancerous masses need a rich supply of nutrients to preserve their growth. As the increase for demand of nutrients grows the circulation grows as well. This results in increased regional surface temperatures of the breast. The increase in regional surface temperatures is useful with thermography scans.

Abnormal scans of the breast clearly show abnormal areas of heat. This provides the clinician with the ability to look into something may be wrong with the physiology of the breast.

I just had my mammogram done, isn’t that enough?
Mammograms are useful imaging tool; unfortunately like all tests they do have limitations as well. Mammograms do not decisively give your breast health a clean bill of health and have an average sensitivity range of 80% while missing 20% of cases.

In September 2000, a large long-term Canadian study was conducted about the benefits of mammography. The study found that annual mammograms were no more effective in preventing deaths from breast cancer than periodic physical examinations for women in their 50’s. By having your mammogram and thermography scans done studies have shown an increase in survival rates (1).

1.    M. Gautherie, Ph.D.; Thermobiological Assessment of Benign and Malignant Breast Diseases. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol., 1983; V 147, No. 8: 861-869. 

Can thermography replace mammograms?
Breast thermography is not a stand-alone tool in the screening for breast cancer. It is adjunctive, and has a tremendous role in helping screen and discovers the risk-ration towards potential breast cancer.

Preparing for Thermography