American Academy of Thermology Publishes Revised 2015 Guidelines for Breast Thermography
Greenville, SC (PRWEB) July 08, 2015 -- The American Academy of Thermology (AAT) has published a set of revised Guidelines for Breast Thermography.*
The new internationally peer-reviewed Guidelines, which reflect a major re-working of the original Guidelines first published in 2012, were prepared by members of the AAT as a guide to aid breast thermologists and other interested parties in the clinical application of infrared breast imaging.
Thermography is a non-invasive technology available to image and map micro-circulatory shunting associated with breast circulatory changes in the skin. It can play an important adjunctive role in the assessment of breast health, clinical diagnosis, and in distinguishing between benign, early, advanced, and progressive disease. Breast thermography can also play a useful role in monitoring treatment effects.
The 11 areas covered by the revised 2015 Guidelines include:
1. Patient Communication and Pre Examination Preparation
2. Patient Assessment
3. Examination Guidelines
4. Review of the Infrared Thermography Examination
5. Preparation and Storage of Exam Findings
6. Exam Time Considerations
7. Continuing Professional Education
8. Informed Consent
9. Reporting
10. Follow-up Studies
11. Emerging Technologies
“The mission and bylaws of the American Academy of Thermology support the incorporation of thermal imaging into clinical medicine,” commented Jeffrey J. Lefko, Executive Director of the AAT, which is headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina. “The AAT also recognizes the current and ongoing need to promulgate CME in the science and methods of thermal imaging, and the clinical application of heat asymmetry patterns obtained from thermal imaging among both physicians and thermal technologists.”
“In the proper hands and per the appropriate guidelines, breast thermography can be a great tool for breast risk assessment,” commented Dr. Robert G. Schwartz, the President of the AAT who was instrumental in crafting the revised Guidelines, and who earlier this year delivered a very well-received presentation at the South Carolina Mammography Technologists’ Continuing Education Proceedings. “Breast thermography does not replace mammography but rather compliments it. By providing insight into breast physiology, risk factors such as lymphatic congestion, ductal congestion, hormone imbalance, liver overload, and neogenesis can all be assessed.”
A copy of the American Academy of Thermology’s revised Guidelines for Breast Thermography is available online at http://aathermology.org/organization/guidelines/guidelines-for-breast-thermology.
For additional information, interview requests or media inquiries, visit http://aathermology.org/contact, email info(at)aathermology(dot)org or call (864) 235-1834.
About the American Academy of Thermology
Founded in 1971, The American Academy of Thermology (AAT) is the premiere organization in North America for the scientific development, health care training and clinical application of medical infrared imaging. The AAT provides a forum for those who have interest in medically-related conditions that involve the autonomic nervous, peripheral vascular and immuno-inflammatory systems. The organization also holds annual conferences for the presentation of scientific and professional papers, and serves as the voice of its members in medical practice, health care finance, legislative and regulatory related matters.
Learn more at http://aathermology.org
- The procedures of the American Academy of Thermology require that action be taken to reaffirm, revise or withdraw this Guideline no later than three years from the date of publication. Suggestions for improvement of this guideline are welcome and should be sent to the Executive Director of the American Academy of Thermology. No part of this guideline may be reproduced in any form, in an electronic retrieval system or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. American Academy of Thermology Guidelines may be revised or withdrawn at any time.
Jeffrey J. Lefko, Executive Director, American Academy of Thermology, http://aathermology.org, +1 (864) 235-1834, [email protected]
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