Thermogram No Substitute for a Mammogram
By Cindy Carter, PA-C, CBPN-IC, Advanced Medical Imaging
Thermography has been around for decades. It utilizes an infrared camera to produce images (thermograms) that show the patterns of heat and blood flow on or near the surface of the body. Breast thermography was approved by the FDA in 1982 only as an adjunct to mammography. However, locally and nationally some facilities, websites, and mobile units have promoted the use of thermography as a stand-alone tool to screen and diagnose breast cancer. Some have falsely claimed thermography to be a substitute for mammography, or even superior to mammography, and that it can diagnose breast cancer long before a mammogram. This is simply not true. Patients and their providers are receiving false and misleading information. On June 2, 2011, the FDA issued an alert regarding false and misleading claims in relation to thermography. According to the FDA, “thermography is not a replacement for screening mammography and should not be used by itself to diagnose breast cancer.” They also state there is no scientific data that shows thermographic devices, when used on their own, are an effective screening tool for any medical condition including the early detection of breast cancer or other breast disease.
Experts in breast imaging, breast cancer and public health agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Cancer Institute, the Society for Breast Imaging, the American College of Radiology, and the American Cancer Society agree with the FDA.
Digital mammography is safe. And it’s the most effective method of detecting breast cancer in its earliest, most treatable stages. Mammography remains the gold standard for breast cancer screening. The images that result from annual screening mammograms allow experts to detect changes in the breast and detect suspicious tissue up to two years before it can be felt by you or your doctor.
The National Cancer Institute estimates that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. According to the FDA, there has been a steady decline in breast cancer deaths and one reason is early detection through mammography. Since 1990, mammography has helped reduce the breast cancer death rate by nearly thirty percent. For women concerned about the exposure to radiation from a mammogram, evidence shows the amount of radiation exposure is minimal and the benefits clearly outweigh the risks, especially when compared to the danger of breast cancer.
Current recommendations for women are annual screening mammograms starting at age 40, along with a clinical breast exam for patients who are considered at average risk for breast cancer. Women with an increased risk of breast cancer—including women with a family history of breast cancer, women who smoke, and women who are overweight— should consult with a healthcare provider or breast care expert. Advanced Medical Imaging has additional diagnostic procedures for detection which include breast ultrasound, breast MRI and biopsy. In some cases, these procedures are used in conjunction with a mammogram and breast exam. Additional procedures could include thermography.
For more information from the FDA on thermography, please refer to www.fda.gov/consumer and search thermography. For additional perspectives on breast cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment please visit the American Cancer Society, the Society for Breast Imaging, the American College of Radiology, the National Cancer Institute and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network websites. We encourage women to discuss this information with their healthcare providers. Contact Advanced Medical Imaging with your questions and we’ll provide you with accurate information and guidance.