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Hygeia will begin offering Breast Thermography

Breast Thermography is a non-invasive way of monitoring breast health over time. Normal breasts have a stable thermographic pattern that does not change over time (much like a fingerprint). The purpose of the initial breast study is to establish the normal baseline pattern for each individual patient to which all future thermograms are compared. With usual breast health the thermograms remain identical to the initial study. Any changes that are recorded mean there may represent functional changes in the breast that call for further investigation.

Please note that breast thermography is NOT intended to be a substitute for mammograms. Thermography reads only the temperature at the skin surface and does not image deeper tissue as mammograms, ultrasound and MRI are able to do. Breast Thermography should be used as an adjunct to mammography and can be useful in women with dense breasts which limit mammographic accuracy by serving as a second source of information. Breast thermography is also not used for diagnosis. A change in thermal pattern will prompt further testing to identify the source of the change.

The protocol for Breast Thermography imaging calls for a baseline pair of images obtained 3 months apart. The ability to interpret an initial study is limited because there are not previous studies for comparison. Sometimes initial patterns are complex enough that a clinical exam, ultrasound or mammogram may be recommended to assure that the pattern is indeed a normal healthy baseline.

New England Clinical Thermography will be providing imaging at Hygeia approximately every three months. Please call for the next available date. Appointments last 30 minutes and cost $170.00. (The three month initial follow-up scan is discounted to $100.00). Thermography is not billed to your insurance and payment is expected at the time of service.

To schedule an appointment
call us at (603) 448-7344
or
e-mail nurse@hygeiawomen.com