Thermography is a highly effective imaging protocol for detecting breast cancer.
Thermography is a diagnostic procedure that employs an infrared imaging technique to measure heat produced by the body. The technique monitors blood flow and detects tumors. In recent years, thermography has become a popular means of breast cancer detection that is thought to be extremely effective.
How It's Performed
After the client disrobes from the waist up, she then is given time to adjust her body temperature to room temperature. She then raises hands above head or to a bar. Imaging then begins from all angles. The client then holds onto a cold object until her body temperature cools, and imaging resumes. This measures her neurological response to the temperature change. This protocol presumes that healthy tissue cools, while cancerous tissue remains warm. The two sets of images are compared.
Safety and Accuracy
According to the Women Health Zone, estimates say that the rate of accuracy for thermography is as high as 96 percent and that it provides more thorough imaging than any other means of breast cancer screening. It is believed to pick up suspicious areas significantly earlier than other imaging methods. Since the imaging detects "hot spots," it is also useful in detecting angiogensis --- warming of the tissues indicates when tumorous tissue has become malignant. It is even thought to be highly effective on dense breast tissue, which has up to now been problematic. No radiation is used with the examination, and no pressing of the breast tissue, and these factors increase safety over mammogram. Thermography can be used as often as necessary to periodically reassess the health of the breast or the effectiveness of treatment.
Drawbacks
While thermography is highly accurate at identifying hot spots, it does not pinpoint the exact location of the tumorous tissue. For this reason, thermography coupled with a mammogram provides a well-rounded picture of breast health. There is virtually no health risk with this imaging technique. While hormonal activity does alter the body temperature, it is not believed to be a significant enough effect to skew the results. The examination is estimated to produce 10 percent false positives. It is also estimated to miss 10 percent of tumors. Most of the cancerous tissues missed are slow-growing and have a low metabolic rate; therefore, the patient is likely to have a high rate of survival.
Cautions
To ensure accurate results, thermography must be performed by accredited facilities and competent staff. Thermography is not meant to be a replacement for mammogram or self breast examination.
Tags: body temperature, breast cancer, breast tissue, highly effective, imaging technique, means breast
