What is the role of thermography (infrared thermal imaging) in breast cancer screening?

From the Guidelines

Thermography is not recommended as a primary screening tool for breast cancer. While thermography uses infrared imaging to detect heat patterns that might indicate increased blood flow associated with cancer growth, it has significant limitations in accuracy and reliability. Mammography remains the gold standard for breast cancer screening, with proven ability to detect small cancers before they become symptomatic. Thermography has high rates of both false positives and false negatives, meaning it can miss cancers or incorrectly suggest cancer is present. Major medical organizations including cancer societies do not endorse thermography for breast cancer screening. The fundamental issue is that thermography detects temperature differences rather than directly visualizing breast tissue structure, making it inadequate for detecting small tumors. Women should follow established screening guidelines using mammography starting at age 40 or 50 (depending on risk factors) and continue with regular screenings as recommended by their healthcare provider. Those at higher risk may need additional screening methods like MRI, but thermography should not replace evidence-based screening approaches 1.

Key Points:

• Thermography is not a recommended screening tool for breast cancer due to its limitations in accuracy and reliability.
• Mammography is the gold standard for breast cancer screening, with proven ability to detect small cancers before they become symptomatic.
• Thermography has high rates of false positives and false negatives, which can lead to incorrect diagnoses or missed cancers.
• Major medical organizations do not endorse thermography for breast cancer screening.
• Women should follow established screening guidelines using mammography, and those at higher risk may need additional screening methods like MRI.

Recommendations:

• Women should start screening for breast cancer with mammography at age 40 or 50, depending on their risk factors.
• Regular screenings should be continued as recommended by their healthcare provider.
• Those at higher risk may need additional screening methods

From the Research

Thermogram for Breast Cancer Screening

• Thermography is a breast cancer screening technique that has been around since 1956, but its use declined after a 1977 study found it to be less effective than other screening tools 2.
• Recent studies have revisited the use of thermography as a screening tool, citing its potential as a non-invasive, low-risk adjunctive tool for early detection of breast cancer 2, 3, 4.
• The sensitivity and specificity of medical thermography are reported to be high, especially in dense breast tissues, with sensitivity and specificity ranging from 85% to 100% and 25% to 100% respectively 3.
• Thermography has several advantages over existing modalities, including its non-invasive nature, lack of radiation exposure, and potential for early detection of breast cancer 3, 4.
• Image processing techniques, such as asymmetrical analysis and machine learning algorithms, can enhance the significance of diagnostics and improve the detection of breast cancer from thermal images 3.
• The use of artificial intelligence and thermal imaging to detect early-stage breast cancer can provide impressive results, making thermography a promising technology for the early detection of breast cancer 4.
• Other imaging modalities, such as mammography, ultrasound, and MRI, are also used for breast cancer screening, each with their own strengths and limitations 5, 6.
• Combining multiple imaging modalities, including thermography, may increase diagnostic ability and improve cancer management 5.