Medical Infrared Imaging of the Breast: An Analysis of 100 Successive Cases of Breast Cancer

Medical Infrared Imaging of the Breast:

An Analysis of 100 Successive Cases of Breast Cancer

William C. Amalu, DC, DABCT, FIACT

PCRC Infrared Imaging Lab – Redwood City, California

March 18, 2015

     The following data presents the findings in 100 successive cases of breast cancer using medical infrared imaging (MIR). Thermovascular markers were detected using a specialized high-resolution computerized medical infrared imaging system capable of detecting minute variations in the regional vascular perfusion of the microdermal circulation. The imaging system used is composed of a highly sensitive infrared camera coupled to a central processing unit capable of multitasking capabilities including post-image processing and accurate temperature measurements (Spectron IR 640 Medical Infrared Imaging System). All pre-imaging patient preparation protocols and laboratory requirements were strictly adhered to as per established MIR standards and guidelines.

     Following MIR interpretation guidelines, each patient was referred back to their primary care provider with recommendations for follow-up imaging or testing. The final diagnosis in each case was made by biopsy.

     In the data presented is a special category of patients. In this group MIR was the first alarm that anything was wrong. If it were not for MIR all of these patients would not have known they had breast cancer.

     When analyzing each breast, 20 basic thermal attributes are used in the grading process. A computerized analysis of both thermovascular patterns and objective temperature values are compared to a normative database. This determines where each breast is graded into one of five thermobiological classifications:

TH1 – uniform non-vascular

TH2 – uniform vascular

TH3 – questionable

TH4 – abnormal

TH5 – very abnormal

The following is a summary of the MIR findings in 100 successive cases of breast cancer –

Thermobiological Grade 3 (TH3 – questionable):  22 cases

·         Of the 22 cases, 10 were “first alarm” thermograms.

·         Of the 22 cases, only 9 were true TH3s. The remaining 13 cases were TH3+ (TH3+ thermograms are almost TH4s)

·         Of the 22 cases, 2 cases had bilateral breast cancer graded TH3 in both breasts.

·         One case was only 28 years old. This was the youngest patient in all of the 100 cases.

·         Of the 22 cases, 10 cancers were in the right breast and 12 in the left breast.

Thermobiological Grade 4 (TH4 – abnormal):  43 cases

·         Of the 43 cases, 22 were “first alarm” thermograms.

·         Of the 43 cases, 1 case had bilateral breast cancer graded TH3 in one breast and TH4 in the other.

·         Of the 43 cases, 1 patient was pregnant.

·         Of the 43 cases, 1 patient had a 3 year lead-time thermogram warning.

·         Of the 43 cases, 14 cancers were in the right breast and 29 in the left breast.

Thermobiological Grade 5 (TH5 – very abnormal):  35 cases

·         Of the 35 cases, 18 were “first alarm” thermograms.

·         One case was only 36 years old.

·         Of the 35 cases: 3 were TH6s, 2 were TH7s, 2 were TH8s, and 1 case was a TH9

·         Of the 35 cases, 1 patient had a 4 year lead-time thermogram warning.

·         Of the 43 cases, 13 cancers were in the right breast and 22 in the left breast.

Summary –

     Of the 100 cases 22% were TH3 (questionable), 43% were TH4 (abnormal), and 35% were TH5 (very abnormal). As such, 78% of the cases were TH4 or TH5 abnormals. This closely approaches the published literature stating that approximately 85% of all breast cancers are found in the TH4-5 range. If we were to adjust the data to include only the true TH3 thermograms, 92% of the breast cancer cases in this group would have been found in the abnormal range.

     Of note, 37% of the breast cancers were found in the right breast while 63% of the cancers were discovered in the left breast. This agrees with the literature that the vast majority of breast cancers are found in the left breast.

     The 22% of all cases found in the TH3 range points out the importance of making sure that if recent structural imaging has not been done that all TH3 graded thermograms are followed up with structural imaging.

     Of greatest importance is the 50% of the women who had “first alarm” thermograms. All of these women would not have known they had breast cancer if it were not for MIR. Many of whom would have gone from a year to many years before having any other imaging done. How many of these women would have died if not for this technology? How many breasts were conserved due to MIR? What about the women in this group who were under 40 years of age? Cancers in this age group are usually more aggressive and have poorer survival rates.

     As an adjunctive imaging technology, MIR offers every woman the possibility of earlier detection. The unique capability of MIR may also play a significant role in prevention. Studies continue to demonstrate that the addition of MIR to every woman’s regular breast health care increases survival rates along with preserving the breast.