Breast Imaging Outcomes following Abnormal Thermography

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Oncology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Abnormal breast thermography findings warrant further investigation to rule out malignancy.
• Conventional breast imaging modalities play a crucial role in evaluating suspicious thermographic results.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the outcomes of patients with abnormal breast thermography who underwent conventional breast imaging.
• To determine the diagnostic accuracy of mammography and ultrasound in evaluating thermography-detected abnormalities.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective review of 38 patients with abnormal breast thermography who underwent mammography and/or ultrasound.
• Inclusion criteria: women with thermography-detected abnormalities evaluated between 2000-2015.
• Outcome determination through biopsy or at least one year of follow-up.

Main Results:

• Only 5% (2 of 38) of patients were diagnosed with breast cancer, both presenting with suspicious clinical symptoms.
• No asymptomatic women were diagnosed with cancer, yielding a 100% negative predictive value.
• The majority of patients (79%) had benign findings (BI-RADS 1 or 2).

Conclusions:

• Abnormal breast thermography in asymptomatic women is highly unlikely to be associated with breast cancer.
• Mammography and ultrasound are effective tools for characterizing thermography-detected abnormalities.
• Suspicious clinical findings are key indicators in patients diagnosed with cancer following abnormal thermography.