The ability to listen and learn from one another has always been vital in parliament, in business and in most aspects of daily life. But at this particular moment in time, as national and global events continue to reiterate, it is uncommonly crucial that we forge new channels of communication and reinforce existing ones. The following article from Medical Thermal Imaging is an attempt to do just that. We would welcome your thoughts on this or any other Parliamentary Review article.
Medical Thermal Imaging
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1MEDICAL THERMAL IMAGING |
BEST PRACTICE SPONSOR 2020
Directors Phil and Rosa Hughes
receiving an award for their film,
The Promise
Left breast cancer
In 2008, Phil and Rosa Hughes established the first
thermography clinic in Liverpool. Twelve years on, Phil says
they have built up working relations with 40 clinics across the
country, including three mobile units. Today, thermography is
used to recognise variations in thermal emissions from the body,
which can assist in recognising the early stages of developing
pathology. Phil tells
The Parliamentary Review
about the benefits
of non-invasive techniques, the importance of early screening and
how thermography as an adjunctive test can be used to improve
diagnostic representation.
Our introduction to medical digital infrared thermal imaging happened in 2006
when my wife, Rosa, discovered a lump in her left breast. The discovery created
a time of stress, apprehension and fear. We knew it was important to determine
whether the lump was benign or malignant. We also made a firm decision that,
whatever the outcome, we were not going to go to war with the lump, nor were
we going to expose Rosa to anything that would increase the risk of cancer.
A friend who was aware of our dilemma asked if we had considered thermography.
We hadn’t heard of thermography, but what she told us about the procedure
created a curiosity that warranted research into the subject. We were amazed to
find an abundance of quality research in PubMed, displaying the benefits of DITI.
The procedure fit all of Rosa’s requirements, and we proceeded to look for a clinic
offering the service. At the time, there were very few practices, but we eventually
found a clinic in Harley Street that suited our needs, and we made arrangements
for Rosa to be imaged. When the images were interpreted, they showed Rosa was
at extremely high risk for malignancy. The upside, however, was that we were
FACTS ABOUT
MEDICAL THERMAL IMAGING
»Directors: Phil and Rosa
Hughes
»Established in 2008
»Based in Liverpool
»Services: Digital infrared
thermal imaging
»No. of employees: 11
»www.medscans.co.uk
Medical Thermal
Imaging
THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW
Highlighting best practice
2| MEDICAL THERMAL IMAGING
able to monitor Rosa’s condition and
treatments without increasing risk. As
such, Rosa is alive today and very well.
Opening the first thermography
clinic in Liverpool
We were so impressed with the studies
and technology that in 2008 we
trained in thermography, bought our
first medical infrared imaging camera
and opened the first thermography
clinic in Liverpool. Over the last 12
years, we have built up relationships
with over 40 clinics nationwide. We
updated our cameras in 2017 and
now have three mobile units and a
static workstation at our head office
nearLiverpool.
We have also undergone advanced
training in the US, and have passed
additional exams through the
International Academy of Clinical
Thermography. The continued
advancements in modern-day
sophisticated imaging cameras,
computers and software technology
provide our digital infrared thermal-
imaging systems with the capability
to look at the human body in ways
never before possible.
Our state of-the-art systems have
the ability to recognise minute
variations in thermal emissions from
the body and convert the findings
into extremely high resolution
images. The images can then
undergo digital manipulation, which
helps our doctors to interpret the
images, enabling them to provide
an accurate risk assessment, and
offers an aid to early diagnosis.
Detection of abnormalities at this
early stage presents the possibility
of less aggressive interventions that
can prevent tumour growth.
This safe test of physiology provides
us with an incredible opportunity
to positively change the course
of breast cancer. There are many
benefits of DITI, including that it is
not invasive in any form, it is not
limited by age or breast density,
there is no exposure to the dangers
of ionising radiation and no
damaging or painful compression
of the breast is required. This
simple, safe test provides the
welcome opportunity to include
the millions of younger women
who are not automatically included
in the existing routine screening
programme.
It is these younger women, who
are shown to be at an elevated risk
of developing aggressive breast
cancers, who can now have a
suitable imagingtest.
We bought our first
medical infrared imaging
camera and opened our
first clinic in Liverpool in
2008
D
ITI is a valuable
adjunct to
mammography
and ultrasound,
especially in
women with
dense breast
parenchyma
l
The American Journal
of Surgery, 2008
“
“
3MEDICAL THERMAL IMAGING |
BEST PRACTICE SPONSOR 2020
A misunderstood technology
Although there is a growing demand
for our services, we are not even
scratching the surface of what
thermography is capable of, with one
of the key challenges being that it is
a misunderstood technology. There
could, no doubt, be more clinics, with
the 40 clinics that we do work with
having materialised through word of
mouth. Thermography is, for some
reason, looked upon as a threat or
challenge to mammography. This
should not be the case, however, as
they are two very different tests. One
is a test of anatomy, while the other is
a test of physiology; each test provides
totally different information which
when used together can provide and
aid accurate diagnosis.
Women in their early 30s have one
of the highest rates of breast cancer.
Despite this, existing screening
procedures do not typically start until
age 50.
By the time some women have been
tested, they may already be between
six and ten years late. If someone
discovers a lesion or a tumour at 35,
it has probably been developing since
their twenties.
We are not suggesting that
thermography is a replacement for
mammograms but rather an adjunctive
service, that provides the opportunity
to millions of younger women to be
safely imaged.
Misinformation is an obvious challenge
but we have shown that the general
public are becoming more aware of
how to source medical evidence that
enables them to make an informed
decision on medical treatments
andprocedures.
In addition to the advancements in
camera and software technology
we are also looking to AI to improve
diagnostic representation.
Our future and the future of
thermography
Some women are either better suited
to thermography or are seeking
another option to mammograms.
Demand for thermography is growing,
and we are currently making visits
across the country, visiting some
clinicsmonthly.
Thermography is recognised as an
adjunct to mammography and also
offers a unique service for those
members of the public who are not
suited to mammography: women
who have had breasts amputated,
men, younger women with dense
breast tissue and those who
simply want to avoid exposure to
ionisingradiation.
Our message is simple, we are
providing a safe service suitable
for all ages that can offer earlier
detection of breast abnormalities
and monitor pathology without
increasing risk.
As a future risk
indicator for
breast cancer a
persistent
abnormal
thermograph
carries a
22-times higher
risk and is ten
times more
significant than
a first order
family history of
disease
Elliot, Head, 2002
“
“
Thermography is
recognised as an adjunct
to mammography