Is Thermography (Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging) safe? 

Yes, thermography is safe, FDA registered and has been in use for over twenty years.  It is a painless, non-invasive, no touching, no radiation highly accurate test.

 

What is the difference between breast thermography and mammography?

Thermography detects the emissions of radiant heat from the body offering signs of inflammation. It involves no radiation or compression, and views a larger area then a mammogram.  It is a test of physiology that has the potential to detect cancerous conditions in the breast 5-8 years earlier than mammography. This gives patients time to re-balance hormones through diet, supplementation, energy work and lifestyle changes.

 

Mammography detects structure/anatomy, such as a tumor.  It shows dysfunction after there has been a change in density of the tissue , such as is the case with micro-calcifications, or where a tumor has formed. It has a smaller imaging area, and includes radiation and compression. 

 

Can I use thermography to replace my yearly mammograms?

No. Thermography and mammograms are completely different tests and thermography is not suggested as a replacement or alternative for mammograms.  Taken together, thermography and mammography are complementary procedures that can lead to the earliest possible detection.

 

Do I need a referral from my family physician?

No, a referral is not necessary.

 

Is thermography covered by health insurance?

No. There is no diagnostic code for Thermography but most health savings plans will cover it. We require payment at the time of service, and will provide you with a receipt that you are welcome to forward to your insurance company.​​

​

Who is qualified to take and interpret Digital Infrared Images?

Rachel Mazzarelli is a Certified Clinical Thermographer through the American College of Clinical Thermology. The team of EMI doctors are board certified MD's who are also certified to read thermograms.

 

I’ve been told that a “cold-challenge must be done in order to achieve an accurate reading of a thermogram.  Is this true?

The use of the cold-challenge (placing the patient's hands in ice-water or using ice packs placed on the mid-back) was discontinued in the late 1980's. Originally thought to improve the sensitivity and specificity of a breast thermogram, a review of clinical literature, as well as consensus among experts, resulted in this practice being discontinued.

 

How long does it take?

From start to finish, your appointment should take about 30 minutes. During this time your health history will be reviewed, your body to acclimate to the temperature in the room and imaging will be done. The imaging itself takes 2-6 minutes depending on what you are scanning.

 

How often will I need to rescan?

We recommend annual scanning. If your thermogram shows changes, depending on the level of risk, you will be asked to re-scan sooner. If you are scanning to monitor the progress of therapy or treatment protocols, your doctor will guide you.

​

What if the thermogram finds anything suspicious? What do I do?

If the thermogram suggests clinical correlation or further testing is recommended you need to seek advise from your doctor or healthcare provider. If the scans detect warning signs, these signs should not be ignored.

 

Have there been clinical studies done showing the accuracy of thermography?

Yes, over 800 peer-reviewed studies on breast thermography have been conducted. Over 300,000 women have been studied, some having been followed for up to 12 years.  These trials have shown the many benefits of thermal imaging and its ability to detect the first signs of cancer, up to eight years before any other procedures.