Thermography key tool

Regarding “Dense breasts may require further screening” (Sept. 17):

Left out was an affordable, FDA-approved screening tool that all women need to be aware of: risk assessment thermal imaging, also known as thermography. The FDA approved it in 1982 as an adjunct screening and detection procedure, which when added to a woman’s breast health examination substantially increases the sensitivity in detecting pathologies associated with the breast.

As a unique physiological examination procedure, breast thermography is the only known test that can also serve as an early warning system by identifying women who have high-risk pre-cancerous infrared imaging markers. The procedure can also play a role in prognosis and as a method of assisting in monitoring the effects of treatment.

No single test is 100 percent accurate that can be used alone as an adequate screening or detection method for breast cancer.

Thermography is far more sensitive than mammography. However, some slow-growing nonaggressive cancers will only be detected by mammography.

Karla Porter

Spokane