Breast Thermography Evaluation Program Instructions — Hyperthermia>
Vascular hyperthermias are classified as local/regional and global, and easily distinguishable from the venous hyperthermia dealt with in previous program queries.
Local and Regional Hyperthermia
Local or regional hyperthermia present as random patches of elevated temperature most often with diffuse (fuzzy) border. A local hyperthermia is a discrete patch confined to a single quadrant of the breast. A regional hyperthermia is comprised of one or more patches occupying a significant portion of one region, or multiple regions. Local or regional hyperthermias are limited to no more than two quadrants and exclude the nipple/areola region.
Local and regional vascular hyperthermia are characterized as one or several areas of hyperthermia in any region of the breast, except the nipple/areola region, involving up to two quadrants, and with either a clear or a fuzzy outline.
Procedure:
- Carefully review the images of each breast for indications of a local or regional hyperthermia.
- If one or more hyperthermia is identified, on one or both breasts, check the Yes box for the breast presenting with the hyperthermia. If both, check both boxes.
- When prompted, check the box, or up to two boxes corresponding to the quadrants occupied by the identified hyperthermia.
- When prompted, enter the measured maximum temperature of the hyperthermia in degrees Celsius, and enter the temperature of the same area on the opposite breast.
- Note: If a local/regional hyperthermia is present in the same area of the opposite breast, both it and the identified hyperthermia should be further examined to rule out venous affiliation.