Breast Thermography and Clinical Applications

Alexander Mostovoy
Thermography Clinic Inc.

ABSTRACT
Breast Thermography is an imaging procedure where infrared images of the breast are analyzed and rated to
determine the risk of developing breast cancer. The infrared imaging process allows one to see the range
and amount of heat or thermal energy emitted from the body. Structural tests, such as mammograms and
ultrasound rely on finding physical lesions (anatomy), while breast thermography detects asymmetrical blood
vessel circulation (physiology) within the breast.

Breast thermography is a radiation-free, safe and painless process of screening for breast disease. In
conjunction with mammography and other tests presently available, the early detection of breast cancer may
be as high as 90%. Infrared breast thermography is a method of the earliest detection of breast abnormalities
presently known. Advances in technology and in the science of breast thermography have made infrared
imaging a very reliable first line device for the screening of breast abnormalities.

INTRODUCTION – THERMAL BREAST IMAGING

Breast thermography is based on the premise that before the growth of abnormal cells is possible, a constant
blood supply must be circulated to the growth area. Infrared thermography measures the heat generated by
the microcirculation of blood in the breast during this process.

Infrared radiation, or heat is constantly emitting away from the surface of the human skin. Skin as an organ
breathes, exchanges gases with the environment, cools us as well as keeps us warm by letting heat out or
keeping it in by controlling the amount of circulation, or blood flow, in the skin. This automatic regulation is
done without conscious thought and is controlled by the autonomic nervous system via the sympathetics.
The whole process is called thermoregulation.

Thermal Breast imaging is a method of measuring this thermoregulation and detecting the physiological
changes associated with the presence or increased risk for the development of breast cancer. It is based on
the principle that chemical and blood vessel activity in both pre-cancerous tissue and the area surrounding a
developing breast cancer is almost always higher than in the normal breast. Since cancerous masses are
highly metabolic tissues, they need an abundant supply of nutrients to maintain their growth. In order to do
this they increase circulation to their cells by sending out chemicals to keep existing blood vessels open,
recruit dormant vessels, and create new ones. This process results in an increase in regional surface
temperatures of the breast, which can be easily seen with infrared breast imaging.

Abnormal thermographic scans of the breast clearly demonstrate abnormal areas of heat. This gives the
clinician an alert that something might be wrong with physiology of the breast. It could be an infection,
inflammatory disease, trauma or cancer.

InfraMation 2008 Proceedings ITC 126 A 2008-05-14

CASE STUDY 1 – HIGH RISK

Figure 1. Patient refused mammography and biopsy. Changed her mind after seeing the results of her Breast
Thermography Report. Breast Carcinoma was later confirmed with biopsy. Patient believes this technology
saved her life.

CASE STUDY 2 - HIGHEST RISK

Figure 2. Regular annual mammography examinations negative. Re-examined after high-risk thermography
findings, confirmed breast cancer. Mastectomy performed left breast.

InfraMation 2008 Proceedings ITC 126 A 2008-05-14

CASE STUDY 3 - LOWEST RISK
FLIR Systems
FLIR Systems
36.0 °C
36.0 °C

34

34
32

30.0

32

30.0

Figure 3. Clear symmetry of thermal patterns between breasts. Consistency of thermal patterns with
normal anatomy. Quantitative temperature differences between breasts insignificant. This image is
rated TH-1 Lowest Risk.

CHANGES IN TECHNOLOGY
Breast Thermography was approved by the FDA in 1982 as an adjunctive diagnostic screening procedure for
the detection of Breast Cancer. However, the greatest developments in this field have emerged in just the
past decade with the advent of digital photography and high-resolution digital imaging.

Protocols have also been standardized concerning patient preparation, image collection and reporting.
Technicians are trained in all aspects of obtaining consistent thermographic images in a clinical setting while
board certified clinical thermographers provide standardized reports that are accurate and easy to
understand. This standardization and improved technology has significantly increased the reliability of
thermal breast imaging over the past twenty-five years.

CLINICAL APPLICATIONS
Thermal Imaging is not a stand-alone screening examination, a diagnostic examination, or a replacement
examination. It is simply a method of detecting physiological changes associated with the presence or
increased risk for the development of breast cancer.

Breast Thermography has been researched for over 50 years, and over 800 peer-reviewed breast
thermography studies exist in the index-medicus. In this database well over 250,000 women have been
included as study participants. Some of these studies have followed patients up to 12 years. Breast
Thermography has an average sensitivity and specificity of 90%.

Studies show that:

• An abnormal infrared image is the single-most important marker of high risk for developing breast
cancer.
• A persistent abnormal thermogram carries with it a 22 times higher risk of future breast cancer.
• When thermography is added to a woman's regular breast health checkup, a 61% increase in survival
rate has been realized.
• Finally, when used as part of a multi-imaging approach (clinical examination + mammography +
thermography), 95% of early-stage cancers could be detected.

Thermographic Imaging is also an invaluable tool in evaluating the following conditions: Arthritis, Carpel
Tunnel Syndrome, Chronic Low Back Pain, Chronic Nerve Injury, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome,
Fibromyalgia, Headache / Sinus Pain, Neck and Back Problems, Pain Evaluation, - Referred pain,

InfraMation 2008 Proceedings ITC 126 A 2008-05-14

Visualization of Pain, Repetitive Strain Injuries, Soft Tissue Injuries/ Sports Injuries, Stroke Risk Assessment,
Musculo-Skeletal Syndromes and Whiplash.

INTERPRETATION GUIDELINES
Standard evaluation of images includes analyzing the symmetry of thermal patterns between breasts, the
consistency of thermal patterns with normal anatomy, and the quantitative temperature differences between
breasts. Images are analyzed using specialized software and the images of the breasts are rated anywhere
from TH-1 to TH-5. TH-1 indicates the lowest possible risk of developing breast disease, while TH-5 indicates
the highest risk.

SUMMARY
First-Line imaging modality must be safe, convenient and able to detect primarily the more aggressive tumors
when early intervention can have the greater impact on survival. Thermography is safe and non-invasive
technique to quantify vascular and metabolic changes related to early tumor development.

100 patients were evaluated with Thermal Imaging, Mammography, and Physical Examination.
Mammography’s 85% Sensitivity increased to 95% with the addition of Thermal Imaging and 98% with
Thermal Imaging and Physical Examination.

Integrating Thermography into a multi-imaging approach can increase the sensitivity and provide an early
warning signal of an abnormality in the breast. All women should begin having thermograms beginning at age
25. Breast thermography should be an essential front-line screening method that should be made available to
all women.

REFERENCES
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Diakides, N.A. and Bronzino, J.D., Medical Infrared Imaging, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 2008

Dodd G.D., Thermography in breast cancer diagnosis. In Proceedings of the 7th National Cancer Conference.
Los Angeles, CA, Sept 27-29 Lippincott, Philadelphia, Toronto, 1972

Elliott R, Head, J. The Important Role of Infrared Imaging in Breast Cancer. IEEE Engineering of Medicine
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Gamagami, P. Atlas of Mammography, New Early Signs in Breast Cancer. Blackwell Press. Cambridge, MA,
1996

Gautherie M. and Gros C.M. Breast thermography and cancer risk prediction. Cancer, 1980

Gershen-Cohen J., Haberman J., and Brueschke E.E. Medical thermography: a summary of current status,
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Guidi A.. and Schnitt S.J. Angiogenesis in Preventive Lesions of Breast. Breast J.2, 1996

Haberman, J. The present status of mammary thermography. CA-Can. J. Clin., 18:, Nov 1968

Isard H.J., Becker W., Shilo R. et al. Breast thermography after four years and 10,000 studies. AM. J.
Roentgenology, 1972

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Jones C.H., Thermography of the female breast. In Parsons C.A. (ed.), Diagnosis of Breast Disease,
University Park Press, Baltimore, 1983

Keyserlingk J.R.et al., Infrared imaging of the breast: initial reappraisal using high-resolution digital technology
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Keyserlingk J.R., Yassa, M., Ahlgren, P., and Belliveau N. Tozzi. Ville Marie Oncology Center and St. Mary’s
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Lawson R.N., Implications of surface temperatures in the diagnosis of breast cancer, Can Med Assoc.J., 1956

Lawson R.N. and Chughtai M.S., Breast cancer and body temperatures, Canadian Medical Association
Journal 88, 1963

Los M, Voest EE. The potential role of antivascular therapy in the adjuvant and neoadjuvant treatment of
cancer. Semin Oncol. 2001

Parisky Y, The Efficacy of Computerized Infrared Imaging to Evaluate Mammographically Suspicious Lesions,
AJR 180, Jan 2003

Williams and Handley, Infra-red thermography in the diagnosis of Breast Disease, Lancet 2, 1961

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alexander Mostovoy is the founder and CEO of Thermography Clinic Inc., a company that franchises medical
imaging centers across North America.

Dr. Mostovoy is a Board Certified Clinical Thermographer and a Doctor of Homeopathic Medicine and
Science with a busy practice in Toronto, specializing in women’s health issues. His expertise lies in a natural
approach to menopause, disease and breast cancer prevention. His practice utilizes medical infrared imaging
in a clinical setting, and acts as a training center for clinical thermographers from all over the world.

Dr. Mostovoy is a graduate of the Homeopathic College of Canada. He is past President of the Homeopathic
Medical Council of Canada (HMCC), and the Canadian Coalition for Homeopathic Medicine (CCHM), and
past Vice-President of the Ontario Homeopathic Association (OHA). He is a popular lecturer and a frequent
guest on many television and radio programs, and publishes many informative articles in health magazines.

InfraMation 2008 Proceedings ITC 126 A 2008-05-14

InfraMation 2008 Proceedings ITC 126 A 2008-05-14