Digital infrared thermal imaging in health care

Thermography (medical)
Intervention
ICD-9	88.8
MeSH	D013817
[]

Non-contact thermography, thermographic imaging or thermology is the field of thermography that derives diagnostic indications from infrared images of the human body. Thermology is sometimes referred to as medical infrared imaging or tele-thermology and utilizes thermographic cameras.

Thermography is used to determine areas of the body that have irregular blood flow. It is commonly used by sports physicians and veterinarians to determine areas of the body that have inflammation.

Thermography has been promoted by some alternative medicine practitioners as a means to diagnose cancer, although it is not effective for this purpose. Health Canada has issued "cease and desist" orders to clinics offering breast thermography as a cancer diagnostic device because thermography cameras are not licensed as a medical device in Canada, and because thermography is viewed as ineffective by medical experts. The FDA has issued a public warning notice stating that breast thermography is not an alternative to mammography and has ordered Joseph Mercola to stop making excessive claims for thermography.

Thermography is discouraged in North America by the American Cancer Society, radiologists and the FDA for early breast cancer detection. Advertisements in the United Kingdom have been found to be misleading.

The FDA has cleared thermography only as an adjunct method of screening. "Thermography devices have been cleared by the FDA for use as an adjunct, or additional, tool for detecting breast cancer." However, they stop short of recommending it, citing the lack of evidence of its effectiveness.

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