Thermography

Thank you for choosing Thermography Ltd for your thermography needs. The following information explains the protocol, fees and business policies for having a thermography procedure.

What to do before your exam

• Avoid a hot shower at least 4 hours prior to the exam.
• Do not smoke for 2 hours before the exam.
• Do not use lotions or powder on your breast on the day of the exam.
• Avoid application of deodorant on the day of the exam.
• Do not shave on the day of the exam to avoid skin abrasions.
• Avoid sun exposure for extended periods of time the day before and day of exam.
• Avoid sex and excessive stimulation of the nipples at least 4 hours prior to the exam.
• Bring hair clips or ties to pull hair away from face and shoulders.
• Notify technician if you are taking Beta Blockers and/or any other medications.
• Be sure to complete all paperwork prior to your arrival.

Payment is due when services are rendered. We accept all credit cards. Checks should be made payable to Thermography Ltd. Please note that there is a $35 service fee for all returned checks. Appointments that are not cancelled within a twenty-four hour notice will be charged the full amount for the thermography session. Our office is an “Out of Network” provider which means your insurance company may not cover theses services.

Please print and fill out the forms and bring them to you appointment. If you have any questions please call or email our office.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Who certifies your thermographers?
Thermography technicians are trained and certified by the American college of Clinical Thermography at Duke University which is an accredited medical association.

Who reads the images and reports?
Images are sent to an interpretation service that employs medical doctors who are board certified as thermologist by the American College of Clinical Thermology at Duke University.

How soon will I get my report back?
Reports are normally interpreted within 48 hours. You may request that your report is emailed when it is ready or allow for mailing time. If you need your report within 24 hours you can pay an “urgent” fee.

Are gray scale thermograms higher resolution than color?
There is no difference in resolution between color and grayscale with modern digitized images.

What is the difference between high definition thermography and other types of thermography?
Almost all modern cameras provide high-definition images. The definition of a thermogram relates to how many individual temperature measurements are taken to build the image. The actual definition is not as important as how accurate and sensitive those temperature measurements are. The higher the definition the better the picture will look but that does not mean that the accuracy is superior. Describing a thermogram as “high definition” may be confusing and misleading as most high definition images are produced by software manipulation of the data.

Why should I come back in three months for another breast study?
The most accurate results we can produce are by seeing change over time. Before we can start to evaluate any changes, we need to establish an accurate and stable baseline for the individual. This baseline represents the unique thermal finger print which will only be altered by developing pathology. A baseline cannot be established with only one study, as we would have no way of knowing if this is the normal pattern or if it is actually changing from the time of the first exam. By comparing the two studies three months apart we are able to judge if the breast physiology (activity) is stable and suitable to be used as the normal baseline and safe for continued annual screening. The reason a three month interval is used relates to the period of time it take for blood vessels to show change. A period of time less than three months may miss significant change and a period time much more can miss significant changes that may have already taken place. There is no substitute for establishing an accurate baseline.