[Purpose] Experimental and clinical studies on the factors related to breast thermography have been carried out for the purpose of determining the diagnostic accuracy of breast diseases.
[Method] 1. Experimental studies Hot spots, in constant temperature and in various diameters, were used as phantoms of malignant tumors. After the paraffine layers in various thicknesses (7, 10, 15, 20 mm) covered the spots, thermograms were taken with “Barns Ml infrared, camera” at constant intervals during experiments.
2. Clinical studies : Thermograms of breast diseases, proved histologically, were. statistically investigated and analyzed.
[Results] 1. Experimental studies : Limitations of the thickness of the paraffine plate were suggested in a series of diameter of the hot spot, which enabled us to take thermograms. It was found that there was a linear relationship between the thickness and the diameter.
2. Clinical studies : Diagnostic accuracy rate for breast cancer is low when the diameter of the tumor is smaller than 20 mm. Diagnostic accuracy rate is higher in the localized type than in the infiltrating type.
In our experience it was found that the combined use of clinical, mammographic, echographic, and thermographic examinations gave the best diagnostic accuracy rate for breast cancer.
Thermography is not enough to be solely relied upon for mass screening for breast cancer but it represents an addition to other methods of diagnosing breast lesions and deserves further investigation.