Frequently asked Questions
What is Breast Thermography?
Breast Thermography is a non invasive and non destructive way to screen for breast cancer without radiation or compression. It uses state of the art technology that assesses heat in the breast through infrared technology. Comparative exams can create a baseline for monitoring breast health based on thermal changes.
What is Medical Thermography?
Medical Thermography is a whole body analysis for assessing skin surface temperatures that can be correlated by a physician to assess for abnormal physiology. Uses for thermography are similar to that of an oral thermometer, a stethoscope, or any other medical test that assesses patient function. There are several type of medical devices used by the medical thermologist. These include contact sensors, infrared cameras, and point analysis systems. The most technical and advanced system is the infrared thermal camera and is the choice technology of Breast Thermography International and the Professional Academy of Clinical Thermology. Infrared cameras measure radiation in the infrared electromagnetic emission that the human body emits. The sensors on the thermal camera read varying degrees of infrared emittance and through proper calibration translates it in to a temperature reading. The information is then plotted in a digital format in color palette. The most commonly palette is the rainbow (ROYGBIV) that shows hot measurements as red and white and cold as magenta and black. These patterns are then analyzed and physiological assessments are made.
Who Interprets Medical Thermography Images?
Board Certified Physicians interpret thermography images. Breast Thermography International relies on the advanced training and certification through certification through the Professional Academy of Clinical Thermology. Our thermography interpreters have over 40 years of experience in medical thermography. Every image is analyzed by three levels of interpreters with varying degrees of expertise.
How Do I Receive My Results?
A complete assessment of your skin surface temperature measurements will be compiled in a multi-page report after our medical thermology team has completed their in-depth work. Reports will be issued in a digital format so you may enjoy the high resolution images on your favorite digital device. You will see various measurements and comments based on your findings that will need to be investigated by a physician. Medical Thermology reports are easy to understand by your doctor as their training in physiology and anatomy is extensive. If they need help understanding our team of doctors are always willing to lend a hand. A baseline study is usually needed so that future comparisons can be analyzed.
Do I need a referral from a doctor to get an appointment?
No. You may book an appointment directly.
How long does a scan take to perform?
Approximately 20-30 minutes. Plan on being at our center for 45 minutes.
How long does it take to get the results?
We pride ourselves with prompt turnaround. In most cases, our Board Certified Thermographers will have the results back to your center in 1 week or less. We have 3 interpreters viewing your images for optimal reporting.
Is Thermography covered by insurance?
Not at this time. Keep in mind, cutting edge technology is not covered in most fields of medicine. Our centers charge a nominal fee for this technology despite the high cost of the equipment and the cost of running a center. Insurance coverage should not keep you away. Think of all of the other less important things we spend our money on!
Do I need to get a mammogram?
That is between you and your primary physician. Thermography is an adjunctive procedure that offers extra information and can be combined with other testing.
How much does a Breast Thermogram cost?
Our centers charge based on regional factors. Typically, the range is $199-$550 initially inclusive for the images, interpretation and report. Most agree this is a small price to pay for EARLY breast cancer detection. We also offer full body exams, as well as female and male profiles starting at $299.
What do I do if a Thermogram is positive?
Take appropriate action and be sure to follow-up as recommended by our doctors and yours. Many times we are able to pick up cancerous changes before other standard tests, which provides the ability to act swiftly and appropriately. For example, thyroid heat may be found long before a blood test will show signs of thyroid dysfunction. It is well advised to work with a doctor familiar with thermal imaging and its life saving ability. We have doctors available for consultation through PACT.
Should I get a full body scan?
About 90% of our patients nationwide have a full body or profile done at the time of exam. We have a 97% patient satisfaction rate based on recent surveys. The information not only shows areas of dysfunction, but may show if your personal wellness plan is working.
What do I do if my Doctor discredits the results?
Please help educate your doctor. Even the “best doctors” think inside their guidelines and frequently reject new ideas and technology. Chances are they are misinformed, or not informed at all. Share information with them that you can download from this site. After all these very studies come from well respected medical journals.
How often will I need a thermogram?
Your initial scan will dictate what follow-up is necessary. With no suspicious findings, most follow-up recommendations will be 12 months. Scans that warrant monitoring typically will be 3-6 months. If you are using thermography to monitor your overall health then it is a good idea to be tested quarterly until your health is stable. Annual wellness checks are recommended.
Are there many false positives with thermal imaging?
The purpose of the thermographic evaluation is to show areas of hot and cold in the body. Thermography is greater than 99% accurate for this purpose. Therefore, we can say there are no false positives with thermal imaging. Heat can be present due to many factors. There is no such thing as “normal” inflammation in the body. This is due to a pathological process or injury.