Abnormal Thermograms Research Articles

Thermographic patterns of the breast: a critical analysis of interpretation.

In a prospective evaluation, 1,000 consecutive breast thermograms were categorized as either normal or having 1 of 4 abnormal patterns: diffuse, asymmetrical, focal, or peri-areolar. Of 49 proved carcinomas, 43 produced an abnormal patterns; the asymmetric type was 3 times as common as the focal. Tumors producing focal patterns were slightly smaller than those producing asymmetrical patterns. Almost 30% of the non-malignant lesions produced an abnormal thermogram. This procedure can not generally be used to distinguish between benign and malignant lesions; there may be, therefore, little diagnostic value in categorizing abnormal thermograms. The usefulness of thermography in the detection of occult carcinomas has not been established.

The Value of Scrotal Thermography as Compared with Selective Retrograde Venography of the Internal Spermatic Vein for the Diagnosis of "Subclinical" Varicocele

The accuracy of scrotal thermography as a diagnostic method to confirm or detect spermatic venous reflux in patients with palpable and subclinical varicocele, respectively, was evaluated. In all, 118 scrotal thermograms were performed in 110 patients, and the results were compared with the findings by selective retrograde venography of the internal spermatic vein whenever required. Normal thermograms were recorded in 23 oligospermic men without varicocele. Of 39 patients with palpable varicocele, 37 had abnormal thermograms; normal recordings occurred in 2 patients with associated unilateral testicular atrophy. Among 36 men suspected of having subclinical varicocele, 19 had abnormal thermograms and 16 presented reflux on the venogram. Venography was performed in 5 of the remaining 17 men with normal thermograms; only 1 had reflux. Screening for varicocele by means of scrotal thermography thus revealed reflux in 16 of 36 patients with unexplained infertility. Postoperative thermograms were disturbed in 6 of 20 cases, 5 of which presented reflux. Only 1 of 14 postoperative patients with normal thermograms underwent venography, and no reflux was demonstrable. Both the difference in temperature between the affected and contralateral hemiscrotum and the area of hyperthermia were significantly greater in patients with grades II and III varicocele, compared with those with subclinical and grade I varicocele. It is concluded that scrotal thermography is a valuable screening method for the detection of spermatic venous reflux. The technique allows selection of patients to be subjected to retrograde venography.

Thermography of the female breast: a five-year study in relation to the detection and prognosis of cancer.

More than 12,000 women have been examined thermographically in the Breast Unit of the Royal Marsden Hospital, London. Of these women 1,464 had biopsy and histology; 363(25 per cent) were found to have carcinoma and of these 68 per cent had abnormal thermograms, 13 per cent has some thermal asymmetry of doubtful significance and 19 per cent had normal thermal patterns. Fifty-seven per cent and 62 per cent of patients with Stage I and Stage II cancer, respectively, had abnormal thermograms whereas 83 per cent of patients with Stage III cancer had abnormal thermograms. Of 1,101 women who had benign lesions, 63 per cent had normal thermal patterns, 15 per cent had thermal asymmetry of doubtful significance and 22 per cent had abnormal thermograms. The subsequent histories of 172 cancer patients examined thermographically have been analysed and three-year survival rates have been correlated with thermography report, the clinical stage of the disease and the histotogical grade (Bloom, 1950) of the excised tumour. The mean three-year survival rates for patients with Stage II or Stage III cancer are 84 per cent for those with normal and 61 per cent for those with abnormal thermograms.

The use of thermovision in the detection of early breast cancer.

4621 completely asymptomatic women underwent thermographic screening followed by clinical examination for breast cancer. 628 of the women were found to have abnormal thermograms and were referred for mammography. Of these 326 were abnormal but negative for malignancy 198 were negative 42 were positive for malignancy and 62 were suspicious of malignancy. Of the 62 9 were found positive at repeat roentgenogram indicating that thermography may indicate a malignant change at a time when the lesion is too small to be demonstrated radiographically. A positive thermogram should be considered as an indication for further study rather than biopsy. The false negative rate was 1.7 per 1000 women screened. Advantages of thermography are: 1) it provides simplicity of performance and repetition with no radiation hazard 2) it can provide an indication for further examination and 3) all women have nondeviating thermographic patterns except for older women who become progressively less vascular. Disadvantages include: 1) the coldness of scirrhous cancer 2) bilateral cancers may be interpreted as negative 3) there is no spatial relationship to the cancer and 4) thermographic signs of cancer occur in benign conditions.

Breast thermography after four years and 10000 studies.

BREAST THERMOGRAPHY AFTER FOUR YEARS AND 10,000 STUDIESHAROLD J. ISARD, M.D., WARREN BECKER, M.D., RUTH SHILO, M.D. and BERNARD J. OSTRUM, M.D.Audio Available | Share

Value of mammary thermography in differential diagnosis.

Thermographic examinations of the breasts were carried out in 359 women, most of whom had mammary symptoms. Of the 195 patients with abnormal thermograms, 27 had cancer of the breast, 53 had benign lesions, and 115 had no confirmed organic disease. The incidence of false-positive thermograms was 59%. Of the 164 patients with normal thermograms, 116 had no confirmed organic disease, 41 had benign lesions, and 7 had cancer. The incidence of false-negative mammary thermograms was 29%.We conclude that mammary thermography is of no practical value in the differential diagnosis of symptomatic mammary disease.

Thermographic facial patterns in carotid occlusive disease.

Thirty-one of 35 patients with angiographically confirmed carotid occlusive disease were found to have abnormal facial thermograms, using a combined standard and head clamp provocative technique. Analysis of the 51 abnormal thermograms obtained showed four basic patterns of thermal asymmetry. An awareness of these patterns is essential in order to achieve maximum sensitivity of the method as an indicator of internal carotid occlusive disease.