Thermographic Patterns of the Breast: A Critical Analysis of Interpretation

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Abstract
In a prospective evaluation, 1000 [human] breast thermograms were categorized as normal or having 1 of 4 abnormal patterns: diffuse, asymmetrical, focal or periareolar. Of 49 proved carcinomas, 43 produced an abnormal pattern. The asymmetric type was 3 times as common as the focal. Tumors producing focal patterns were slightly smaller than those producing asymmetrical patterns. Almost 30% of the nonmalignant lesions produced an abnormal thermogram. This procedure can not be used to distinguish between benign and malignant lesions. There may be little diagnostic value in categorizing abnormal thermograms. The usefulness of thermography in the detection of occult carcinomas was not established.

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