Thermal Imaging with Image of Health

Mobile Unit at Global Healing Therapies
Friday, May 21, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
Call 804-748-7401 for an appointment

What is Infared Thermal Imaging?

It is a scientifically established and accepted means to measure the quantity and patterns of heat emitting from the human body with a patented, FDA registered device. It is a totally safe, non-invasive, non-contact means to measure how well your body is regulating its internal environment by mapping the thermal output within two one-hundredths of a degree centigrade! This highly sensitive and specific imaging method is computerized as an image of your body in a colormap that makes it easy to read.

It is referred to as " Medical Infrared Imaging" because it shows how well your body is functioning as compared to an x-ray, or a Mammography. These tests have their benefits, but the unique benefit with Medical Infrared Imaging is that it can reveal changes leading to potential health problems long before they threaten your health and/or it can confirm something you suspect but your doctor has no means to confirm or refute the condition exist.

Why it Works.

Medical Infrared Imaging is a non-invasive, non-contact scan with absolutely no risks. There are no in jections or fluids to drink. Our full body or localized exams are the safest imaging procedure known.

 

 

What Can it See?

Medical Infrared Thermal Imaging is the screening have been waiting for.

• It offers the unique insight of a “first glance” at developing conditions long before the much later stage detection of conventional imaging.

• It also offers the benefit of pure & safe imaging. There is no risk of damage to the fragile cellular DNA or to delicate breast implants.

There are special protocols for treatment of all early stage conditions to give the added benefit of prevention to avoid development of unwanted disease. This can save the heartache of treatment and undesirable risk associated with later stage detection.

Mammography / Thermography / Ultrasound - What’s The Difference?

The following graph outlines the differences between mammography, medical infrared imaging (thermography), and ultrasound. Medical infrared imaging detects surface heat as a byproduct of biochemical reactions. As such, the test adds valuable physiologic information that cannot be obtained from any other imaging procedure. Thermography is designed to be used as an adjunct (an additional test) to a woman's regular breast health care.

Mammography	Thermography	UltraSound
Uses X-rays to produce an image that is a shadow of dense structures. Suspicious areas need to be dense enough to be seen.	Uses infrared sensors to detect heat and increased vascularity (angiogenesis) as the byproduct of biochemical reactions. The heat is compiled into an image for computerized analysis.	High frequency sound waves are bounced off the breast tissue and collected as an echo to produce an image.
Structural imaging. Ability to locate the area of suspicious tissue.	Functional imaging. Detects physiologic changes. Cannot locate the exact area of suspicion inside the breast.	Structural imaging. Ability to locate the area of suspicious tissue.
Early detection method.	Early detection method. Used as an adjunctive imaging test.	Low spatial resolution (cannot see fine detail). Good at distinguishing solid masses from fluid filled cysts. Used as an adjunctive imaging test.
Findings increase suspicion. Cannot diagnose cancer.	Findings increase suspicion. Cannot diagnose cancer.	Findings increase suspicion. Cannot diagnose cancer.
A biopsy is the only test that can determine if a suspected tissue area is cancerous.
Can detect tumors in the pre-invasive stage.	May provide the first signal that a problem is developing.	Ability to detect some cancers missed by mammography.
	A positive infrared image represents the highest known risk factor for the existence of or future development of breast cancer – 10 times more significant than any family history of the disease.
Average 80% Sensitivity (20% of cancers missed), in women over age 50. Sensitivity drops to 60% (40% of cancers missed) in women under age 50.	Average 90% Sensitivity (10% of cancers missed) in all age groups.	Average 83% Sensitivity (17% of cancers missed) in all age groups.
Hormone use decreases sensitivity.	No known effect.	No known effect.
Large, dense, and fibrocystic breasts cause reading difficulties.	No effect.	No known effect.
In most women, the medial upper triangle, peripheral areas next to the chest wall, and the inframammary sulcus cannot be visualized.	Not applicable.	All areas visualized.
Sources: Index Medicus – ACS, NEJM, JNCI, J Breast, J Radiology, J Clin Ultrasound Index Medicus – Cancer, AJOG, Thermology Text – Atlas of Mammography: New Early Signs in Breast Cancer Text – Biomedical Thermology

 

Your Thermal Imaging Appointment

During the Exam
There will be no contact with your body, no injections, radiation or fluids to drink. You will be in a comfortably cool private room and the camera will be positioned from 4 to 8 feet away from you as you turn to change to the necessary positions.  You will be offered a gown to wear until the imaging begins.  For breast imaging, you will be required to disrobe your upper body. A region of interest, like the head or breast will take about 15 minutes.

Notice Regarding Interpretation
When reading these images, we look for certain temperature findings in the breasts which may suggest elevated risk for disease. Thermal imaging provides information about current and future risk only and does not diagnose breast conditions. Thermal imaging findings should be correlated with diagnostic examinations before a final diagnosis and treatment decision is made. It does not replace any other breast examination.

To Schedule an Appointment
Our office is not perfoming these tests, we are merely providing a location for the mobile unit van. To schedule an appointment, please call Image of Health, at 804-748-7401. You may also visit their website for more information

Find more information on Thermal Imaging at the Maxwell Clinic.