The following case studies help to illustrate the role that breast thermography plays as part of a woman’s regular breast health care. In each case, thermography’s unique capabilities either bridged the gap in the current standards for screening, saved the patient’s breast, helped in providing prevention, or saved the patient’s life.
These breast thermography “Case Studies ” are courtesy of Dr. William C. Amalu, DC, DABCT http://www.breastthermography.com/case_studies.htm
This patient came to our office with a lump in the right breast. Her doctor sent her in for a follow-up mammogram to investigate the lump. The mammogram came back negative with a recommendation for a routine annual exam.
The image to the left shows a significant amount of heat and vascularity (angiogenesis) in the right breast, especially over the lump in the upper outer quadrant.
In this image, the left breast is shown to be cool with a normal limited vascular pattern.
This image shows the right breast with the area of the lump directly facing the infrared detector. The increased heat and vascularity is very evident.
The patient was sent back to her doctor with a recommendation for an immediate biopsy of the lump.
The biopsy confirmed that the lump was cancer.
This patient came to our center with a recent mammogram that was considered watchful for an area in the left breast. A follow-up ultrasound of the left breast was also watchful for the same area. The report recommended a follow-up mammogram in 6 months to monitor the finding in the left breast.
The image to the left shows a noticeable increase in heat and blood vessel activity (angiogenesis) in the left breast when compared to the right.
This image of the right breast shows a normal cool thermal signal and vascular pattern.
In this image, the left breast is viewed showing the full extent of the hot engorged blood vessels extending throughout the breast.
The patient was sent back to her doctor with a recommendation for an immediate biopsy of the watchful area in the left breast.
The biopsy came back positive for cancer.
This case demonstrates how angiogenesis is involved in malignant tumor growth and how infrared imaging detects this process. This patient came to our center to add thermography to her regular breast health care.
The image to the left shows a significant amount of heat and blood vessels in the right breast, especially noticeable is a single large vessel (red stripe). The left breast is cool and normal in comparison.
The patient was sent back to her doctor for an immediate follow-up mammogram. The combined findings on the thermogram and mammogram prompted a biopsy that was positive for a very early stage cancer.
This image was taken three months after the patient’s lumpectomy. Note how the right breast has returned to a normal cool state. The blood vessels seen in the previous image have vanished. Since the cancer has been removed, there is no longer a demand for an increased blood supply to maintain the continued growth of the tumor.
This patient came to our center after having a normal mammogram and a watchful ultrasound of the left breast. The report recommended follow-up imaging in 6 months. Her doctor was concerned over a thickening of the left breast.
The image to the left shows a significant increase in temperature of the entire left breast along with noticeable vascularity (angiogenesis).
In this image, the right breast is seen to be normal and cool without evidence of suspicious blood vessel activity.
This image shows in full detail the significant amount of thermovascular activity in the left breast.
The patient was referred back to her doctor with the recommendation for an immediate biopsy of the left breast.
The biopsy results were positive for inflammatory breast cancer.
This case study involves a 19 year old woman who discovered a lump in her right breast. Her doctor examined the area and noted that it was likely a cyst. The patient insisted on further tests. A mammogram was performed along with a follow-up ultrasound. The findings were negative on both tests. Her doctor assured her that everything was fine and that she was too young to have breast cancer. The patient came to our center for a thermogram.
The image to the left shows an aggressive increase in temperature and vascularity (angiogenesis) in the right breast.
In this image, the left breast is cool and without a suspicious vascular pattern.
This image of the right breast shows a single large hot blood vessel leading into the area of the lump.
We referred the patient back to her doctor for an immediate biopsy of the lump in the right breast.
The biopsy confirmed that the lump was cancer.
