Toward a chronopsy: part I. A chronobiologic case report and a thermopsy complementing the biopsy

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Radiology
• Medical Technology

Background:

• Prophylactic mastectomy is a surgical option for high-risk individuals.
• Mammography is a standard screening tool for breast cancer detection.
• Thermorhythmometry is an investigational technique measuring breast surface temperature variations.

Observation:

• A patient underwent prophylactic bilateral mastectomy due to mammogram findings of clustered calcifications.
• The patient also utilized thermorhythmometry to measure breast surface temperatures.
• Histologic examination of the resected breasts was performed.

Findings:

• No malignancy was detected in either breast.
• Bilateral fibrocystic disease with calcification and lobular hyperplasia was diagnosed.
• The area identified as 'abnormal' by both mammography and thermorhythmometry showed more atypical epithelial proliferation compared to other sites.

Implications:

• Thermorhythmometry may offer complementary information to mammography in identifying areas of concern.
• This case highlights the importance of correlating imaging findings with histologic results.
• Further research is needed to validate the clinical utility of thermorhythmometry in breast diagnostics.