Should I have a thermogram instead of a mammogram?
A. A thermal scan can provide additional information about the body, but it does a different job from mammogram or ultrasound which test structure and anatomy. Thermography is a test of function and physiology and its overriding purpose in specialist breast screening is to monitor breast physiology and track changes over time. A first study is not really designed to identify any suspicious findings (though of course any patient would immediately be referred to her physician for further clinical investigation if worrying signs did emerge). The real purpose is to establish a base line – a thermal fingerprint, if you like, of the breast physiology that is normal for that particular patient. Everyone has a vascular structure and anatomy that’s particular to them, so what we are trying to establish in every case is whether this thermal fingerprint is stable, so we re-scan after the first three months to monitor for changes that might give concern. Thereafter women are followed up annually.
