ABSTRACT
Breast cancer is the leading deadly cancer in women at least in the developed countries. X-ray mammography (MG) is called the gold standard for detecting breast cancer, but the method has some limitations: For many women MG may be painful, and the ionizing radiation could cause malignancy. More importantly: Cancerous lumps must have a diameter of at least 5 mm (oen much more) to be detected by MG. Many breast cancers at this stage are 5-10 years old. Earlier detection is requested, but seems to be not easy to do by the established methods. MRI could be a better way, but there is a lack of experience, and it is costly. Ultrasonography (USG) can be helpful, too, but is recognized as a complementary examination.
There is a well known relationship between breast cancer and breast heat signs. Especially aggressive and fast growing breast cancers have an exaggerated metabolism causing a high blood supply. Intraoperative studies have demonstrated that breast cancer leads to an increased venous flow and to heat convection [1]. Usually the healthy breast is, depending on its size, colder than the surrounding chest and abdominal areas without thermographically visible signs of vessels or hot spots. Both breasts should have an average temperature differing not more than 0.5°C (thermal symmetry, Figure 33.1).
