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Friday, March 28, 2014

Understanding The Benefits Of Thermal Breast Imaging

By Juana Buchanan


Again and again, specialists have constantly turned to mammography as the brilliant norms of detecting breast cancer. Medical professionals have accordingly worked in it to the degree that thermal breast imaging has not gain prominence as it should going by results from studies on the subject. Mammography focuses on diagnosis of an existing malignant tissue unlike the computerized (digital) Infrared Thermal Imaging (DITI) that concentrates on averting disease at cell level before the establishment of any tissue.

Basing on the primary understanding that tissues covering cancerous cells/ tissue become warmer in comparison to other close tissues, by use of heat sensitive cameras also known as infrared cameras, changes can be detected just as they begin to occur.

Malignancies need large quantities of nutrients to facilitate their growth right from onset which triggers increase in blood supply to the region. This new development triggers new changes such as development of new blood vessels, increasing the volume of existing ones and making the previously inactive ones active. The result is an increased temperature on the zone and changes from normal image due to new blood vessels all which are detectable.

Given that breast thermal impressions are as unique as DNA, an introductory infrared image is taken on the initial screening and is used for future reference. The typical cell multiplying rate is about 80 days and hence the patient can go for the second infrared image after 90 days. The two photographs can then be looked at and examined for any progressions. In the event that there is no change on images, this structures the groundwork for future examinations. The patients will then attend annual screening.

In case there are suspicions on the first image, the patient is referred for further testing and diagnosis. With these impressive results, thermography is able to detect anomalies many years before mammography can. The changes detected are at cellular level making it possible to spot potential cancer 8 to 10 years before any other test. It makes it possible to view changes before the tumour forms. This is backed by studies that prove the existence of cancerous cells for over seven years before they become detectable.

This type of screening bears you a chance to alter your lifestyle and develop dietary habits that do not encourage development of cancerous cells. This makes it a preventive approach rather than just a diagnostic procedure like the other tests.

It does not hurt in any manner since it is non-intrusive procedure. It has no side effect and is also free of radiations. Likewise, it works better for circumstances where mammography is not suitable, for example, ladies with small breasts, those who need special attention due to breast implants, post-mastectomy screening, and screening of male patients, case like Abnormal Lymph, Thyroid, Brachial and Carotid and all other cases where mammography is not ideal.

Breast thermography comes with many merits over most alternatives the major one being the chance for earliest possible detection and hence prevention. If used as a complementary procedure to mammography and other diagnosis procedures, it can turn out to be the best medical practice towards eliminating mortality resulting from breast cancers. It only requires annual screening after the initial infrared images are taken.




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