Breast Health 1

With the new ultra-sensitive, high resolution digital infrared cameras available today a technology that has been developing over the past 20 years is creating renewed interest.
Canadian researchers recently found that infrared imaging of breast cancers could detect
minute temperature variations related to blood flow and demonstrate abnormal patterns
associated with the progression of tumors. These images or thermograms of the breast
were positive for 83% of breast cancers compared to 61% for clinical breast examination alone and 84% for mammography.

Thermography as a physiologic test, demonstrates heat patterns that are strongly indicative of breast abnormality, the test can detect subtle changes in breast temperature that indicate a variety of breast diseases and abnormalities and once abnormal heat patterns are detected in the breast, follow-up procedures including mammography are necessary to rule out or properly di-agnose cancer and a host of other breast diseases such as fibrocystic syndrome, Pagets disease, etc.

By performing thermography years before conventional mammography, a selected patient
population at risk can be monitored more carefully, and then by accurately utilize mammogra-phy or ultrasound as soon as is possible to detect the actual lesion - (once it has grown large enough and dense enough to be seen on mammographic film), can increase the patients treat-ment options and ultimately improve the outcome.

It is in this role that thermography provides its most practical benefit to the general public and to the medical profession. It is certainly an adjunct to the appropriate usage of mammography and not a competitor. In fact, thermography has the ability to identify patients at the highest risk and actually increase the effective usage of mammographic imaging procedures. Until such time as a cure has been found for this terrible disease, progress must be made in the fields of early detection and risk evaluation coupled with sound clinical decision making.

Thermography, with its non-radiation, non-contact and low-cost basis has been clearly demon-strated to be a valuable and safe early risk marker of breast pathology, and an excellent case management tool for the ongoing monitoring and treatment of breast disease when used under carefully controlled clinical protocols.

Breast Health 2

Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging (DITI) used for adjunctive Breast Disease Screening Can Enhance Early Detection :

"Early detection saves lives"

DITI's role in breast cancer and other breast disorders is one of early detection and monitoring of abnormal physiology and the establishment of risk factors for the development or existence of cancer. When used adjunctively with other laboratory and outcome assessment tools, the best possible evaluation of breast health is made.

This fifteen-minute non invasive test, is a valuable adjunctive tool for alerting gynecologists and primary care physicians to the possibility of underlying breast disease. This test is designed to improve chances for detection of fast-growing, active tumors in the intervals between mammographic screenings or when mammography is not indicated by screening guidelines for women under 50 years of age.

DITI may be especially appropriate for younger women under 50 whose denser breast tissue makes it more difficult for mammography to pick up suspicious lesions. This test can provide a 'clinical marker' to the physician just before clinical breast examination as well as to the mammographer before the mammogram is performed, that a specific area of the breast needs particularly close examination."

Breast cancers tend to grow significantly faster in younger women under age 50:
Source:
Cancer 71:3547-3551, 1993
The faster a malignant tumor grows, the more heat it generates. For younger women in particular, results from DITI screening can lead to earlier detection and ultimately, longer life.
More than 90 percent of women diagnosed with early stage, localized cancer are alive five years later, yet only 58% of cancers are diagnosed at this stage according to the American Cancer Society.

During a clinical breast examination, a physician must rely on fingers (or palpation) and eyesight to detect tumors in the breast, which for women under age 50 may often occur when cancer is no longer localized or confined to the breast. DITI screening can provide an alert before clinical breast exam or referral to mammography, Sonography, or MRI so as to enhance early detection by the physician.

DITI is indicated for women of all ages, particularly in the age group 30 - 50 and women of any age in a high risk group. Examination recall is dependant on Thermogram result, age, previous history and risk group and can be 3 monthly, 6 monthly, or 12 monthly.
AGE AVERAGE TUMOR DOUBLING TIME
Under 50 80 Days
Age 50 - 70 157 Days
Over Age 70 188 days

Breast Health 3