Angiogenesis & Breast Imaging

Thermographic Breast Imaging is NOT a diagnostic test, nor is it intended to replace or substitute any other test or procedure for early detection of breast changes.

Thermographic Breast Imaging is:

NON-CONTACT
NON-RADIATION
PAINLESS

Thermal Imaging is particularly applicable for women who, for whatever reason, chose not to, or can not perform other early detection measures.

Breast Imaging

Thermographic Breast Imaging is a test of observation and detection of change within the function of the tissues of the breast in general, and the vascular complex in particular.

ATI does not endorse the idea that significant data can generally be drawn from a single study. When a lady presents for an initial breast imaging session, she is given a preliminary report and asked to return in three months for a second scan, included in the initial imaging fee.

With the two image series, alterations or changes may be noted if occurring fast enough. If the two image series do not show any alterations, they are then suitable for use as a baseline reference series against which future image series will be compared.

If a change is noted, then there must be a reason for it. Generally there are only two reasons for one breast to exhibit angiogenesis; wound healing or breast disease.

Other changes in breasts that happen under hormonal influences like the menstrual cycle and breast feeding etc. generally effect both breasts equally.
 

The Ville Marie Breast Centre has an excellent discussion regarding infrared breast imaging in a clinical setting.

Mammography, clinical examination and ultrasound all look for a physical artefact. Thermography looks for alterations to the blood supply feeding the artefact.

Combined, these modalities offer the best chance of early detection of breast disease.

Angiogenesis and Breast Thermography

Thermographic Breast Imaging examines the thermal patterns created by the vascular network within the breast and the breast tissue's thermal capacity.

Alterations in breast tissue (disease process') in many cases trigger abnormal blood vessel growth to support the increased activity.

Essentially, if something is happening in one breast and not in the other, there must be a reason for it. Once an asymmetry is noted, a referral for medical assessment is warranted.

Angiogenesis
(new blood vessel formation)

When a cell exists in the body, it requires a constant blood supply nearby to give it oxygen and nutrients and take away waste products. All the tissues of the body are made up of cells. When a cell's growth limiting mechanism fails (for whatever reason), it starts to multiply faster or more than the surrounding cells. This is essentially what cancer is.

Before a whole heap of new cells can form, they need a blood supply, so the cell that is changing (pre-neoplastic) typically starts pumping out hormone stimulants to the surrounding blood vessels triggering new growth.

The blood vessels that form from these stimuli are typically not as well ordered as normal blood vessels, and they lack the smooth muscle that covers established blood vessels.

The Angiogenesis Foundation has a wealth of additional information on this subject.

ANTI-Angiogenesis therapy is probably one of the best chances for beating cancer.

By stopping angiogenesis, malignant cells can not survive beyond their current level. When they outgrow their blood supply, it is just like a car running out of fuel. They simply can't keep going!

Please visit the Angiogenesis Foundation web site for a very detailed and comprehensive discussion on angiogenesis and the exciting research happening in this field.

Before launching into an exploration of what a problem might look like, it is probably a good idea to show you, the reader, what a "good" image looks like.

These breast images (right) are of women who have all been in for multiple studies and have shown no alterations over time. You can see that there are many patterns in the breasts, but in each case, the patterns are symmetrical and the thermal values of the breasts (in comparison with the other and in previous studies) are well within acceptable limits.

It is easy when looking at a thermal image to have the eye drawn to red spots. It is also east to think of hot spots as "bad", but this in not necessarily the case at all.

A Thermologist looks at statistical temperature variations and looks for particular patterns (thermal signatures) which might mean there is a problem.
 

The question stands,.. what does a normal breast image look like in an ideal world?

Essentially, the concept of normal does not exist in clinical practice. Ideal is a better term.

An IDEAL breast image series is one where the woman has no history of breast injuries or surgery, and looks very much like the Subject Six (right).

It must be stressed that symmetry in the breast images like these is RARE.

In the many hundreds of breast studies we have seen, the sort of symmetry and history of subject Six has only been seen twice.

One of the concerns that many practitioners have regards the possible variance of thermal patterns over time. If a person's pattern were to change naturally over time, then this would be seen as a possible problem, otherwise known as a false positive.

In the images of subject one (right), you can see that even though the overall general thermal patterns have altered between image series, the patterns themselves and the symmetry in those patterns have not altered substantially in any way.

A part of examining a thermal image series is a statistical analysis, with maximum, minimum and average temperatures and standard deviations all measured and compared side to side. The other part is a visual interrogation of the images for particular thermal signatures (patterns) which may relate to a progressing disease process.
 

Looking at the second set of images here (right), you can see another example of thermal stability over time.

The reason that the statistics stay so constant and reliable over time lies in the fact that most things that alter a body's temperature will alter the body evenly.

Thus, we have only to look for alterations in the symmetry of the breasts and alterations to a breasts vascular patterns. As you can imagine, strict clinical protocols are important to make sure that as many external variables as possible are eliminated.

Should such an alteration be seen, the lady will then be recommended to see her physician as soon as possible to medically assess any basis for concern.

Remember we are looking essentially for angiogenesis, and there are very few reasons for such a process to occur, especially only in one breast.

"Suspicious" Single Image Series

In some cases, we will see a set of images that are suspicious as a single series. In these cases, there is typically a substantial difference of a great enough magnitude to recommend medical assessment.

Whilst these cases are rare, they do happen. The lady is still asked to return in three months for a second scan. Subject Two (previous frame) has enough asymmetry in the breasts to warrant medical assessment from the first scan. Further scans and medical clearance have shown that the asymmetry is benign and stable. In other words, the patterns and asymmetry is simply a part of her.

Subject Three (above right) had a thermal asymmetry greater than 1.6 degrees (Celsius) and a suspicious pattern. She was recommended to have an ultrasound investigation which came back negative. She and her doctor are now keeping a close watch on the region.

Likewise, Subject Four (below right) has a greater than 2 degree Celsius asymmetry. Ultrasound showed a number of cysts in the upper left breast requiring close observation.