The procedure is Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging (DITI). DITI is an FDA approved procedure that has been around for decades, but recent advances in technology and computer interpretation have brought DITI into more common usage. In 1982, the FDA approved thermal imaging for beast cancer screening.

Although DITI is most commonly used for breast cancer screening, other uses include evaluation of chronic pain syndromes, neurovascular pathology, nerve root compression and more. DITI is capable of locating pathology even in the absence of positive findings on MRI or other imaging procedures. While there are multiple uses for DITI, I will discuss its place in breast cancer screening.

Breast cancer currently affects one in eight women over the course of their life. Every three minutes, another woman is diagnosed with breast cancer and every 14 minutes a woman will die from breast cancer. Mammography remains the primary screening method, but its efficacy is debated, especially in women under 50. Breast self exam (BSE) has also come under scrutiny. It appears from recent research that neither BSE nor mammographies are reducing cancer deaths. Put another way, mortality rates have changed little over the last four decades. There may be a three to four percent improvement since 1990, but this may be related to the way survival rates are calculated, rather than to an actual decrease in mortality. The reason for the grim statistics is that by the time a woman finds a tumor, it has probably been present for several years. This detection is not early enough.

Mammography, breast MRI, and sonograms all utilize anatomical imaging. This is fine and necessary, but a mass has to be present and large enough to be seen. Breast MRI is arguably the best approach, but as far I understand it a mass needs to be at least 3 mm in size to be seen. DITI is an evaluation of physiology, rather then anatomy and is capable of "seeing" precancerous and cancerous states before a tumor is large enough to be seen by anatomical imaging.
It is important to understand that thermography is not a substitute for mammography. Thermography is an evaluation of physiology, which allows for another way of evaluating breast health. Together, thermography and mammography allow for a much higher degree of accuracy in detecting breast pathology than mammography alone.
Precancerous and cancerous states produce areas of increased vascularization and heat. DITI is able to measure heat differences as small as 1/10 of a degree C, and is able to detect this early vascularization. A typical breast series consists of 16 images and a thermal challenge, all of which are designed to pick up potential problem areas and reduce the chance of picking up thermal artifact or other non-significant heat patterns. A thermal challenge involves placing your hands in ice water for one minute to trigger a response which constricts superficial blood vessels. Normal vessels constrict, while vessels associated with possible cancers do not. Thermal imaging can measure the bodies response to the thermal challenge.

If a thermogram indicates a potential problem, anatomical imaging is the next step. If a mass is found, then a standard protocol is followed. If no mass is found, a precancerous condition may exist and steps are taken to reverse this trend. A follow-up thermogram is taken three to six months from the original to monitor changes, both good and bad.

Several points to consider: