The consistency of thermographic findings in the breast (with a proposal for lowering the radiation load in repeated mammographies)

: Thermography is a valuable complementary method in breast examination, but is not a suitable screening method. However, the results of control investigations in 200 females who were reexamined after at least two years, showed no change in the thermographic pattern in 87.5% of the women. In 10.5% the change in thermogram was due to pathological changes, whilst no explanation could be found in only 2% of cases. This high stability rate of the thermograms permits an alternative procedure: If, one year after a basic examination which includes clinical investigation, mammography and thermography, the thermographic pattern is identical with the first, no mammography is necessary. On the occasion of the next control, mammography should be carried out again at the time of the subsequent control examination. This schedule permits a reduction in irradiation without reducing the security of diagnosis.