Quality You Can Trust
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Infrared Imaging (medical thermography) safe?
Yes, the procedure is completely safe. Non-invasive, no contact, no pain. Nothing is beamed at you. It is similar to a camera on a phone except that it sees with amazing accuracy the heat/lightwaves in the infrared range emitted by the skin of all mammals that is not visible by humans unless wearing night-vision goggles! The goggles are SENSING the heat they are emitting from a distance! It is quite mind-blowing that the goggles can do this. In medical imaging, we are close enough to get amazing detail with ZERO harm to the humans in the room.
Is Digital Infrared Imaging costly?
No, thermography of the breast is very reasonable considering the sophistication of the technology involved. However, costs do vary depending upon the location of the imaging lab and if special studies need to be performed. Our studio’s fee for a breast scan is $250.00, which includes imaging, the doctor’s fee, and digital copies of your report + images. Your report and images will be emailed to you via HIPAA compliant encrypted email, usually in about two weeks. If you wish to have your results more quickly, you may arrange this with our office for an additional fee for either 48 hour STAT (+$75) or even same day, doctor on phone or video conference at your appointment, instant interpretation of images at time of service with quick report + images (+$200 and dependent upon doctor and client and technician’s schedules being able to coincide for appointment).
How long before I receive my results?
Normally two weeks, sometimes three weeks during Breast Cancer Awareness Season. If you need sooner, 48 hr business days turnaround, STAT services, are available too, even same-day service; please see above.
Will my insurance cover the test?
This all depends on your individual insurance coverage. Some companies cover the procedure while others do not. Our policy is to receive payment at the time of service. Thermography is not covered by Medicare; no CPT code exists for breast thermography. Some of the self-insuring “sharing” plans do have wellness screening allowances and consider thermography a reimbursable expense. We can provide a receipt with your birthdate and standard info required for getting reimbursed if requested.
Does Digital Infrared Imaging replace mammograms?
No. However, do mammograms replace thermograms? The answer to this is also a resounding “no”; the two tests complement each other. Thermography is to be used in addition to structural imaging as part of a woman's regular breast health care. The consensus among health care experts is that no one procedure or method of imaging is solely adequate for breast cancer screening. Thermography may pick up thermal markers that may indicate the risk of cancers undetected by other tests. A positive infrared image is also the single most important marker of high risk for developing breast cancer. It is digital infrared imaging’s unique ability to monitor the abnormal temperature (physiological) changes produced by pathological breast tissue that allows for early detection. Adding these tests together increases the chance for early detection. The risk of not having structural imaging is not knowing where your cold “turtles” are, which may get called cancer in a very low threshold office and you suddenly have a diagnosis of the big C for a mass of “atypical cells” or “hyperplasia”. So there is value in knowing the location of, but perhaps not excising, these cold turtles going nowhere fast.
Perhaps the day will come when the FDA reclassifies mammograms as adjunctive only screening, realizing that they too should not be used as stand alone screening if for screening at all, though their value as a diagnostic tool (have lump, is it solid?) is fully understood.
Is Digital Infrared Imaging an approved procedure?
Yes, in 1982 digital infrared imaging I was approved by the FDA as a breast imaging procedure to be used in addition to other imaging tests and/or examination procedures.
I have seen news releases that are very negative about thermography.
We have also seen these same news releases. If you look closely you will find a common thread among all of these negative reviews; the procedure is being done incorrectly. When personnel are properly trained, and guidelines are strictly followed, breast thermography can be a lifesaving technology. And, like many other procedures in healthcare, what is the expected outcome if things are done incorrectly? Saying “thermography is great” is as dangerous as saying “surgery is great”. It totally depends upon the skill of the surgical team and the level of need, etc.
Who is qualified to take and interpret Digital Infrared Images?
Interpretation of thermographic images should only be made by health care providers who are clinically trained to diagnose (MD, DC, DO) and hold credentials as Board Certified Clinical Thermographers from a recognized organization. Offices wishing to offer digital infrared imaging, with the images sent for outside interpretation, as we do, should have staff certified as a Clinical Thermographic Technician by one of the same organizations; we trust International Academy of Clinical Thermographers. They have by far the highest standards and most qualified experts, authors and interpreters of any group claiming to be worthy of your trust.
I've been told that a cold-challenge must be done, 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 stopped in the late 1980's. The research at the time showed that using the cold-challenge did not increase the sensitivity or specificity of breast thermography. What we are finding is that some offices have websites informing women that they should never go to any office that is not doing the cold-challenge. We have no idea why they are doing this as this is simply false information. Fortunately, the number of offices doing this is decreasing. However, back in the late 1990's and early 2000's the problem was so bad that Dr. William Hobbins (the leading expert in breast thermography) encouraged our clinic director to review his database of cold-challenges and present a paper at the yearly symposium of the American Academy of Thermology (AAT). Dr. Hobbins and other experts in this field were concerned that these offices were claiming that experts in this field were not performing breast thermography correctly. The paper went on to be presented at the international conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. The end result was acceptance of the paper for peer-review and publication (click here or go to Medline/PubMed). Both the IACT and the AAT convened guidelines committees that included our primary interpreting thermologist, Dr. William Amalu, along with Dr. William Hobbins and a group of experts in this field, to review the current status of breast thermography and create internationally peer-reviewed standards and guidelines documents. With regard to the cold-challenge, a review of the literature along with a consensus among the experts determined that the cold-challenge did not improve the sensitivity or specificity of breast thermography; and as such, its use was not necessary to provide accurate medical infrared imaging of the breast.
What other centers perform Digital Infrared Imaging?
Because of the special training, technical expertise, and unique clinical environmental needs necessary to perform DII, many centers do not have this technology as of yet. Currently, independent digital infrared imaging centers and highly specialized independent breast clinics are the most common place to find this technology.
Can you provide my organization with a speaker?
Yes, we certainly can. Simply contact us with a description of your organization (university, women's group, service club, etc.), and its location, and we would be glad to reply. Since we are frequently asked to speak on this important issue, please give us ample notice before the lecture in order for us to provide a speaker for you.
How can I find a Digital Infrared Imaging lab in my area?
You will find an up-to-date list of international qualified breast thermography centers at this link (Qualified Centers). Disclaimer: One practitioner on there claims on her site in 2 places that her clinic has been overseen by Dr. Amalu for the past 28 years! First, Amalu doesn’t oversee any clinics. He works FOR many offices so logically he is not going to confront a customer about her “exuberant” claims. Second, she had not been in business one year when that went up on her site and it remains, We are always happy to share information to help you get the best service possible no matter where you live and that link is a great place to start but not bullet-proof.
What conditions have the potential of having thermal markers visible with Digital Infrared Imaging?
The following list shows some of the conditions that have associated infrared thermal emission markers:
Altered gait manifestations
Arteriosclerosis (peripheral)
Brachial Plexus Injury
Breast Disease
Bursitis
Carotid Artery Stenosis
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Chronic pain
Compartment Syndromes
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
Dental Irritation/Inflammation
Diabetes (secondary complications)
Disc Syndromes (spinal discogenic pain)
Facet Syndrome
Fibromyalgia
Headache Evaluation (e.g. cervicogenic, migraine, sinus)
Herniated Disc/Ruptured Disc
Hypesthesia
Hyperaesthesia
Inflammation
Intervertebral Disc Disease
Ligament Tears
Lumbosacral Plexus Injury
Muscular Spasm
Muscle Tears
Myofascial Irritation
Myofascial Pain Syndrome
Nerve Entrapment
Nerve Impingement/Pressure
Nerve Root Irritation
Nerve Stretch Injury
Neuritis
Neuropathy
Neurovascular Compression
Osteoarthritis
Paresthesia
Peripheral Nerve Abnormalities
Pinched Nerves
Referred Pain Syndromes
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD)
Repetitive Strain Injuries
Raynaud’s Disease
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Sacroiliac Ligament Tear
Sacroiliac Syndrome
Sensory Nerve Abnormalities
Sinus Irritation/Inflammation
Skin Conditions
Soft Tissue Injury
Spinal Cord Injury
Sports Injuries
Strain/Sprains
Superficial Vascular Disease
Synovitis
Temporal Arteritis
Tendonitis
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Thyroid Conditions
TMJ Dysfunction (TMD)
Trigeminal Neuralgia
Trigger Points
Whiplash Conditions
And many more …
Sources: Index Medicus - J Thermology, Acta Thermographica, J Breast