Evaluation of efficacy of thermographic breast imaging in breast cancer: A pilot study

BACKGROUND: Thermographic imaging is a non-invasive and radiation free imaging modality that measures the infrared radiation released by the body. Recently, there is a renewed interest regarding the scope of thermal imaging for breast cancer. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of thermographic breast imaging in detecting breast cancer. METHODS: A Prospective observational study was carried out from January 2014 to December 2014 at Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, India. Patients in whom breast cancer was confirmed on FNAC or biopsy, were included in the study and further evaluated with thermographic imaging of the breast. RESULTS: 65 patients with FNAC or biopsy proven breast carcinoma were included in the study. Using thermographic imaging, malignancy was accurately detected in 60 patients (92.31%). Mammography was able to detect malignancy in 62 out of the 65 patients (95.38%). Thermography was able to detect malignancy in all 3 cases in which conventional mammography missed it. CONCLUSION: Thermography may have a role in detection of breast cancer. However, it is too early to recommend thermographic imaging as a standard imaging modality for breast cancer. Larger studies are required to evaluate the usefulness of thermography in diagnosis and/or screening of breast cancer.