What Is Thermography and How Does It Work?
Modern Thermography is a test using infrared digital cameras to detect heat patterns and blood flow in body tissue. The cameras record infrared radiation emitted by the body and convert them into temperature readings. The readings are then mapped on a computer screen to be able to identify areas of hot and cold. Areas with decreased blood flow will have colder temperature readings and areas of increased blood flow will have warmer temperature readings.
Thermography, while still controversial for some, has been approved as adjunctive to mammography since the 1980s. Breast tumors as well as some other tumors can be found on thermal imaging through the process known as angiogenesis, which is the formation of new blood vessels that supply nutrients to a tumor. Many times as a tumor grows, its blood supply increases. The ability to see this increase during thermal imaging is important as it allows us to identify a tumor at the earliest possible moment.
What Can Thermography Detect?
Any disease process that emits heat or decreases circulation can possibly be detected through infrared thermal imaging. The FDA has cleared the following as adjunctive screening methods with thermography:
- Breast Cancer
- Thyroid Pathology
- Cerebrovascular Health
- Neuro-muscular Pathology
Other promising and emerging areas deserving consideration include:
- Infection
- Fibrocystic breast disease
- Vascular disease
- Lymphatic stagnation
- Breast Health
- Skin Cancer
- Testicular Cancer
What are the Benefits of Thermography?
- Breast Thermography is safe and comfortable
- Involves No Radiation
- No Compression
- Easy to establish a baseline
- Able to use for women with dense breasts or implants
Thermography vs Mammography
Thermography is an FDA cleared, safe, effective, and comfortable procedure for breast cancer screenings whereas Mammograms can be invasive, painful, and uncomfortable. However, Thermography is NOT a stand-alone diagnostic test. In some cases, breast thermography has detected breast cancer in women with negative mammograms. My personal belief is mammography and thermography should be used together to increase the reliability and eliminate false positives and false negatives.
Since we started doing Thermography in 2011, we have detected 4 cases of breast cancer that would have gone undetected for much longer because the women were against mammograms and the physical harm they endured from them. They chose Thermography because it provided them with a less invasive and less painful option.
Thermography also looks at the physiology of the breast, which indicates health status. If there are areas of heat or lymph congestion, it can indicate estrogen dominance, which can then be proactively worked on with lifestyle changes and detox supplements.
Breast Thermography International is the company that interprets our scans and facilitates our C.E. continuing education programs.
Learn about our Summer Thermography Sale now in effect. We’ve never before offered Thermography at these low prices.
