Infrared Thermography

An FDA-approved, non-radiation, non-contact breast screening

What is Infrared Thermography?

Infrared Thermography uses an FDA-approved medical-grade infrared camera to detect subtle variations of heat radiating from the body’s surface. Its use in cancer prevention and early detection is based on the principle that as a cancerous tumor develops, there is increased circulation and metabolic activity in the area that correlates to a rise in radiant heat, which the infrared camera can detect.

These metabolic changes can be identified well before a noticeable mass develops, even up to 8 years earlier. For example, in the case of Inflammatory Breast Cancer, there are no lumps to be detected by self-exam or Mammography.

Carotid Artery and Thyroid Thermography

Although the majority of thermography scans that we provide are for breast screenings, we also provide carotid artery and thyroid thermography. All three scans are available to both men and women.

Carotid Artery Thermography: “It is widely accepted that stroke is the most common life-threatening and disabling neurologic disease to affect elders in the United States today … The risk of stroke is substantial, often deadly, and for the majority of survivors, disabling … With an ever-increasing elderly population, stroke-related health problems and their impact on quality of life continue to be a major issue for health care providers and the communities they serve.”*

It is actually the third most common cause of death in the developed world due to atherosclerosis primarily. Most individuals who have had a stroke often have high blood pressure often referred to as a silent killer disease as it has vague and/or no symptoms.

Thermography offers a non-invasive, painless, fast, and highly objective way to screen for indicators of atherosclerosis. This is by evaluating the internal carotid artery, the first branch of the carotid artery which feeds the orbits of the eye as well as the sinuses. Ask us for more details about stenosis and thermography’s high sensitivity (detection ability).

Thyroid Thermography: Due to the dense vascularization and location near the surface of the body we are able to evaluate metabolic activity in relation to the thyroid. Oftentimes the common symptoms of weight changes, sensitivity to temperature, hair loss, and many other common symptoms are related to thyroid disorders. These patients often present with vague symptoms of fatigue with no other indicators.

Physicians refer patients for thyroid scans as a means for non-invasive monitoring for many reasons including when sub-clinical (unobservable) symptoms are present.

Thermography can offer monitoring for treatment programs as well as being a non-invasive means of screening cancer from benign cysts.

CALL TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT: 800.447.7276

1. A nurse will review your medical history, explain the imaging process, and will answer any questions.
2. You will be left alone in a private room, where the temperature is set at about 70 degrees, for 15 minutes. This time will allow any heat from outside to dissipate, and your body’s temperature to come into equilibrium with the room. During this time, you will be bare-skinned from the waist up, with complete privacy behind a curtain.
3. Once your core temperature has lowered, your nurse will re-enter the room to finish the process. You will then stand comfortably in front of the camera as 3 images are taken from various angles.
4. You will plunge your hands into a tub of 50° water for 60 seconds for an autonomic challenge.
5. After removing your hands from the ice bath, you will again stand in front of the camera, and 3 more images will be taken for comparison.

That’s it! The entire process takes approximately 30 minutes. You will receive your personalized and comprehensive report within 3 weeks. A copy of the report can be sent to any healthcare providers that you request. You do not need to be a patient at the Riordan Clinic to schedule a breast thermogram.

What Will My Therma-Scan Report Look Like?

The Therma-Scan report is comprehensive, easy to read and understand, and includes images with clearly identified key areas of concern. Therma-Scan emphasizes quality and innovation from the beginning of the imaging process through the final report. VIEW A SAMPLE REPORT

Example of a healthy breast scan:

Example of a scan that was later confirmed, through a biopsy, to be a malignant tumor:

Breast Cancer Facts:

• 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer
• If found early, nearly all breast cancers can be successfully treated
• The 5-year survival rate of women with breast cancer detected in early stages approaches 100%
• The 5-year survival rate of women with late-stage breast cancer is approximately 40%
• Early detection matters!

Advantages of Breast Thermography:

• Non-invasive (no touching, no compressing, no pulling)
• Safe – no radiation exposure. (1 rad of radiation increases your cancer risk by 1%. With 10 years of annual mammogram screening, you have a cumulative 10% increased risk)
• No contrast of any kind is administered
• Earlier detection – as small as a pinhead

Superior Sensitivity for:

• Dense breasts (sensitivity on mammograms is reduced by 40% for those with dense breasts)
• Fibrocystic breasts
• Breast reduction
• Implants
• Very small breasts
• Very large breasts
• Pregnant or Nursing
• Lumpectomy or mastectomy

Safe for:

• Surgically augmented breasts
• Pregnant or lactating
• Both men and women

Thermography is an Adjunctive Diagnostic Modality that Complements:

• Physical breast exams
• Mammography
• Ultrasound
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

CALL TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT: 800.447.7276