The diagnostic options for an early breast cancer diagnosis should be adopted sophistically in a symbiosis of invasive and non-invasive methods. The reduction of mortality, in first line, depends on prevention and early diagnosis of a pre-invasive alteration, or intra-epithelial neoplasia (ADH, ALH, LCIS, DCIS), respectively. Clinical examinations, like inspection, palpation, e.g. according to the „mamma-care“ method, ultrasound, power ultrasound, and elastography belong to the non-invasie methods whereas analogous und digital mammography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET) are invasive. Invasive methods use x-rays, electro-magnetic waves or radioactive substances. A non-invasive method also is represented by thermography, or IR- or infrared imaging, as well as contact plate or liquid crystal (LC or ELC) with high resolution. By a new mechatronically directed cooling technique (wehberGraphie) with exactly defined standards the re-warming process kinetically is stored as a sequence of 20 reproducible images. Activated by proliferating tumour cells VEGF (Vascular Epithelial Growth Factor) is increased. The concomitant increase in vascularisation, NO production and formation of other metabolic substances leads to an elevation in temperature, which is emitted over the skin. The temperature pattern of the skin usually remains always the same, like a fingerprint. This accessory heat exchange, which may be observed with the new contact plate thermography already in atypical ductal and lobular hyperplasies, potentially serves as first evidence of the onset of pre-invasive and pre-malignant growth. This method also may indicate response to neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. For screening purposes it may be used to capture interval carcinomas. |
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